
Class JES_35j H 
Book_^525ji5. 
Copyright N?__i_2^0 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



WALTER BEN HARE 



AND BILLY 
DISAPPEARED 




A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 



Walter H. Baker 6 Co.. Boston 



fl. W. Iroero'a Papa 



THE AMA70NS Farce ln Three Acts. Seven males, five females. 
Costumes, modern ; scenery, not difficult. Plays 
a full evening. 

THE CABINET MINISTER Ltt,^:!^ 

scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

DANDY DIGIT ^ arce in Th re © Acts. Seven males, four females. 
Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays 
two hours and a half. 

THF If AY LORD OUFX Comed y* nr ° ur Acts. Four males, ten 
V females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, 

two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. 

HIS HOIISE IN ORDER Comedy in Four Acts. Nine males, four 

females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, 
three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

THE HOBBY HORSE Comed y In Tnree Acts. Ten males, five 
females. Costumes, modern; scenery easy. 
Plays two hours and a half. 

IRIS - Drama k* Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Costumes, 
modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

LADY BOUNTIFUL Play *** Four Act8, Eiglxt m * les » seven fe- 

^ ^ males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, four in- 

teriors, not easy. Plays a full evening. 

I FTTY Drama in Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five f e- 
^ males. Costumes, modern ; scenery complicated. Plays a 

full evening* 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Salter % Rafter & Compan? 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



And Billy Disappeared 



P53515 



And Billy Disappeared 



CHARACTERS 

Hon. R. M. Borden the attorney 

Ishmael ------- the hermit 

Mr. Billy - -- - - - - -the aviator 

Bub Dusenberry the boy 

Gene Greener ------ the salesman 

Mary Blake - - - - . - - -the mysteiy 

Miss Match - - - - - • - the spinster 

Mrs. Gray -- the wife 

Nancy Borden - the debutante 

Aggie Borden the child 

Kittie - ' ' .- _ the maid 

Scene. — The sun parlor of the Silver Trout Inn in the 
Adirondack Mountains. 

Time of Playing. — Two and one-fourth hours. 

SYNOPSIS 

Act I. — Morning. 
Act II. — The same night. 
Act III. — The next morning. 
Act IV. — A few days later. 




Copyright, 1919, by Walter Ben Hare 
All stage and moving picture rights reserved 
©CI.D 5 3112 

NOV \1 (gig 



*5 




3, 






o 1 






n 






00 

• 


33 


o 




»-• 


1-4 




CO 


> 




o 


o 


O 


»■* 
3 


SO 

> 




* 


s 
o 


PI 




^ 


X 






CD 




CO 


1 




►* 


o 




> 


at 




o 


o 




H 


>? 






D 
99 




CO 


l' 




o 



.SuV*°* a 



2 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

stage but slanting obliquely toward the upper 
r. corner. Piano lamp and stool near the 
piano. A long settle stands back to back with 
the piano. Another settle stands near the fire- 
place in such a position that persons seated 
thereon face both the fire and the audience. 
Footstool r. of center table. Red candles on 
mantel, piano and desk, also vases filled with 
long stemmed red roses. Indian blanket, books, 
stationery, etc., on c. table. Birch bark, Indian 
ornaments and stuffed birds on mantel. Framed 
fish, animal skins, snow-shoes, Cornell banners, 
deer horns, etc., on wall give the correct touches 
of local color. 
Before the rise of the curtain the orchestra plays 
the chorus of " Long, Long Trail " twice, the 
curtain rising rapidly on the last bar of the 
second chorus. R. M. Borden is discovered 
dozmi L., looking at his reflection in the mirror 
over the fireplace. He smiles, arranges his 
hair, steps back, notes the effect and then ar- 
ranges his cravat. Nancy Borden enters from 
r., sees him, smiles, comes down c, unobserved 
by Borden. Borden fiddles with his mustache, 
eyebrows, cravat, etc., and then nods and smiles 
at his reflection in the mirror. 

Nancy. 

[Standing between the center table and the piano, 
facing Borden. ] At it again, Romeo ? 

Borden. 

[Starts; recovers his poise; turns to her and 
smiles. ] I was simply arranging my cravat. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 3 

Nancy. 

[Sits R. of c. table.] Yes. I was watching you. 
It's a good thing that no one but your little sister 
saw you making love to yourself in a hotel parlor, 
isn't it, buddy? That might ripple your dignity a 
little. 

Borden. 
[Annoyed.] Don't call me buddy. 

Nancy. 
What do you want me to call you ? Romeo ? 

Borden. 
Certainly not. [Sits l. of table.] Please don't 
be absurd. 

Nancy. 
I like to be absurd. Dick always said that being 
absurd was one of my chief charms. You're 
grumpy this morning. I don't see why you have 
to get us up so early for breakfast just because 
we're at the Inn ; you never did that at home. 

Borden. 
It's good for us. 

Nancy. 

You just wanted to see who the other guests 
were. Oh, I know a thing or two, even if I am 
only eighteen. 

[Enter Bub Dusenberry from c e., carry- 
ing a telegram and his cap. 

Bub. 
[At rear.] Mornin', squire. 



4 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Borden. 
Good-morning, Dusenberry. 

Nancy. 
Well, if it isn't little Merry Sunshine! 

Bub. 
[Bashfully.] Mornin', Nancy. 

Nancy. 
Hello, Skeesicks. How's the boy? 

Bub. 

[Comes down r., bashfully twists foot, grins, 
fiddles with cap, watching Nancy.] Purty peert, 
same to ye. I hear you come up here to the Inn to 
stay a spell. 

Nancy. 

Yep, we're here for the summer. 

[Borden reads the newspaper. 

Bub. 

We'll kinda miss you down in Skeehawken. 
[Crosses to piano stool] Many folks here yit? 

[Standing l. of piano. 

Nancy. 

Not yet. This is the first day, you know. What 
brings you up the mountain? 

B V B. 

[Sits on piano stool] Brung up a telygram fer a 
man. Kinda suspicious, too. It's fer a man named 
Billy. Anybuddy stoppin' here by that name ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 5 

Nancy. 
Billy? Billy who? 

Bub. 

Billy nobody. That's his last name, Billy. 
[Looks at telegram.] That's all it says, Mr. Billy, 
Silver Trout Inn, Skeehawken, New York. Mr. 
Billy ! Queer kind of a name, ain't it? 

Nancy. 

I'll say so. Never heard it around here in the 
mountains. 

Bub. 
So you don't cal'late he's stayin' here ? 

Nancy. 
You might ask Mrs. Gray. 

Bub. 
Mrs. which ? 

Nancy. 
She's the new proprietor of the Silver Trout Inn. 

Bub. 
Oh! 

Nancy. 

But I'm sure there isn't any one here named 
Billy. There's a Mr. Greener here, I believe. A 
travelling salesman from Rochester, but his name 
is Gene. 

Bub. 
The whole thing looks suspicious to me. 



6 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

» 

Nancy. 
What do you mean suspicious? 

Bub. 

Well, first the way it's addressed. Mr. Billy! 
That sounds suspicious, right there, and then it's 
writ in code. 

Borden. 
[Looks up.] In code? 

Bub. 
Yep. 

Nancy. 
Oh, what does it say ? 

Bub. 

I ain't allowed to tell. Anyhow, it wouldn't mean 
nothin' to you, ef you did know. Codes don't make 
sense, 'less'n you know the secret meaning. It 
might jest say Purple Muskmelons and that might 
mean to rob the pust-omce, er sump'm worse. You 
never kin tell. There ain't many code telygrams 
comes to Skeehawken and it makes me as suspicious 
as thunder when we do git one. Mebbe this here 
Mr. Billy will turn out to be the woman who robbed 
the bank over at Watertown and got away in a 
automobile. She was headed this way the last they 
seen of her. I tell you, the hull thing looks sus- 
picious. Writ in code and addressed to a man 
named Billy fer a last name. Never heerd nothin' 
like that fer a last name. 

Nancy. 
I didn't either. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 7 

Borden. 
It is a rather unusual cognomen. 

Bub. 
What say ? 

Borden. 
I merely ventured the assertion that Billy as a 
surname was a somewhat extraordinary appellation. 

[Resumes his reading. 

Bub. 
Yeah, 'tis so. Them's the very words I remarked 
to Mr. 'Slimmens at the telygraph office. [Slight 
pause.] He had to look 'em up in the dictionary. 

Nancy. 
Maybe it's for some one down in the village. 

Bub. 
Nup. I seen all the Billies in Skeehawken and 
they couldn't make head ner tail of the code mes- 
sage. [Lowers voice mysteriously.] Mebbe it's a 
a/fas. [Slight pause.] That means a false name 
that a crook uses when he wants to be real extry 
crooked, like Mike the Boozer, er sump'm. Them's 
the very worstest ones that uses a/iases. [Rises.] 
You don't suppose that woman who robbed the bank 
at Watertown was born under the name of Getaway 
Bell, do you? [Slight pause.] Nup, that's her 
3.1ms, and I'm here to bet a big round doughnut that 
Mr. Billy is jest as much a a/ias as Getaway Bell. 
You ain't seen no one round here that looks like a 
crook, have you ? 



8 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 
Nobody but brother. 

[Borden is disgusted and rattles paper 
angrily. 

Bub. 

Oh, it ain't him. I ain't got no suspicions on him. 
[Crosses to c. e.] I cal'late I'd better go round 
to the kitchen and see Mis' Gray. Mebbe she'll know 
who it's fer. That bacon smells right strengthy, 
don't it? I rid six miles up the mountain without 
even gittin' a snack o' breakfast, 'count o' me and 
Mr. Slimmens wantin' to know who this here Mr. 
Billy was, and I'm so hungry I could eat shoe 
leather. 

Nancy. 

Skeesicks, you're a caution. 

Bub. 
Oh, I ain't braggin', I ain't braggin', but if there's 
anything crooked goin' on you jest wanta keep your 
eye on me, that's all, jest keep your eye on Bub 
Dusenberry. 

Nancy. 

Are you going on the police force, Bub? 

Bub. 
Nup, it ain't that. Sump'm bigger. 

Nancy. 
You're not going to be a detective ? 

Bub. 
Goin' to be? Huh, I am already one. I'm tak- 
ing a correspondence course, and I'm on the third 
lesson. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 9 

Nancy. 
Oh, that's just grand! 

Bub. 

You bet it is. Wall, I cal'late I'd better see the 
lady who owns the Inn and see if I kin find out any- 
thing about this Mr. Billy. [At c. E.] What did 
you say her name was ? 

Nancy. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Bub. 

I'll go round to the kitchen. [Sniffs.] Gosh, 
that bacon smells good. Wall, mornin', squire. 

Borden. 
Good-morning, Dusenberry. 

Bub. 
Mornin', Nancy. [Bashful business with cap. 

Nancy. 

Morning, Skeesicks. 

Bub. 

[Keeps his eyes on Nancy and backs out c. e., 
bumping sharply into the corner. ] Gosh ! Mornin', 
Nancy ! [Exit, c. e. to l. 

Borden. 

Nancy, you shouldn't flirt with Bub Dusenberry. 

Nancy. 
I have to flirt with some one to keep in practice. 

Borden. 
You think entirely too much about the men. 



IO AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 

[Angrily.] Now see here, Honorable Romeo M. 
Borden, you may be the prosecuting attorney of this 
county, and you may be my brother, but I'm my own 
boss and I'll think about anything I please. And 
you can just scribble that down in your little note- 
book for future reference. I'm eighteen and I'm 
going to have a good time while I'm young, and as 
for you, well, you'd better make a noise like a cake 
of ice and keep cool. 

Borden. 

Nancy, I'm astonished. On our first day at the 
Inn, too. 

Nancy. 
Well, don't get me excited, that's all. And don't 
boss. 

Borden. 

[With a sigh.] Very well. [Looks around.] 
Whatever' s become of Aggie ? 

Nancy. 

Oh, I forgot all about Aggie. [Goes to door at 
l. and looks out.] She's still in the dining-room. 
She's been eating steadily for nearly an hour. 

Borden. 
Call her ! That child is worse than an ostrich. 

Nancy. 
Ostrich? She's worse than that. She's got an 

appetite like [Insert local name. Calls.] 

Aggie! [Louder.] Aggie! 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED II 

Aggie. 
[Outside at l.] Whatcha want? 

Nancy. 
Come here. You've finished your breakfast, 
haven't you? 

Aggie. 
[Outside.] I'm not finished, but I ain't got room 
for any more. 

Borden. 
What grammar ! Shocking. 

Nancy. 
You come here at once. They'll charge you 
double rates for breakfast. [Crosses down to for- 
mer seat.] Buddy, you ought to speak to Aggie. 
Some of these days she's going to eat as much as she 
wants and then, bing ! she'll burst like a balloon. 

[Enter Aggie from l. She is chewing gum 
vigorously and carries an orange. She 
crosses down c. and sits on the piano stool. 

Nancy. 
Aggie Borden, where did you get that orange? 

Aggie. 
Swiped it. [Plays piano with one finger. 

Borden. 
Swiped it ? Such language. 

Aggie. 
I learned it from Nancy. 



12 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 
Aren't you ashamed ? 

Aggie. 
No, I'm not. What's the use of being ashamed? 

Nancy. 
And you're chewing gum. 

Aggie. 

Honest, I can't do anything to please you. What's 
wrong with chewing gum? I gotta chew some- 
thing. 

Nancy. 
Throw it away. 

Aggie. 
Aw, now, Nancy, I d' wanna. It's a whole nickel's 
worth. [Pulls it out in a long string.] I only got 
it last Thursday and now you want me to throw it 
away. That isn't economy. 

Nancy. 

It's disgusting. Aggie Borden, you throw that 
gum away. 

Aggie. 
I'll put it in my pocket. 

Nancy.- 
You throw it away. 

Aggie. 

Aw, stuff ! You just take all the pleasure out of 
life. [Crosses to c. e., dragging feet. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 3 

Nancy. 

And never let me see you chew gum again, espe- 
cially here in the Inn. 

Aggie. 
You bet I won't. 

Nancy. 
Won't what ? 

Aggie. 
Let you see me. 

Nancy. 
Throw it away. 

Aggie. 
Aw, all right. 

[Pretends to throw it away, but puts it in her 
middy pocket instead, showing action to 
audience. 

Nancy. 
Young ladies don't chew gum in public hotels. 

Aggie. 
[Back on piano stool.] Can I eat an orange? 

Nancy. 
After all that breakfast? Certainly not. 

Aggie. 
I can't help it, jest 'cause I get hungry, can I ? 

Nancy. 

Put that orange down and practice your piano 
lesson. 



14 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Aggie. 
I can't play the piano unless I chew gum to keep 
time. 

Nancy. 
Didn't you throw that gum away? 

Aggie. 
Well, I 

Nancy. 
[Crosses to her.] You didn't. Give it to me. 
[Pause; Aggie is sullen.] Give it to me. 

Aggie. 
You wouldn't like it. The sweet's all chewed out 
of it. 

Nancy. 
I want to throw it away. Where is it? 

Aggie. 
[Takes gum from pocket and also a Liberty Bond 
to which the gum adheres. The bond is crumpled 
into a wad. ] There ! 

Nancy. 
What's this? 

Aggie. 
Some paper. 

Nancy. 
It feels like a bank note. [Spreads it out.] It's 
a bond, a Liberty Bond. A thousand-dollar Liberty 
Bond! 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 5 

Aggie. 
It ain't neither. 

Nancy. 
Where did you get it? [Turns to Borden.] 
Brother, it's a thousand-dollar bond. 

Aggie. 
It's mine. 

* Borden. 
[Takes bond.] Why, so it is. Aggie, where 
did you get this? 

Aggie. 
I found it. 

Nancy. 
Found it? Found a thousand dollars? Where? 

Aggie. 

Out in the side yard. This morning before break- 
fast. I went out to dig some fishin' worms in the 
flower-bed and it blew down from above right at 
my feet. 

Borden. 
Blew down? 

Aggie. 

I saw it flying through the air and I picked it up 
and put it in my pocket. 

Nancy. 
It must have blown out of the window. 



1 6 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Borden. 

That's strange. I was just reading about some 
thousand-dollar Liberty Bonds. That robbery at 
Watertown on Saturday — the woman in the auto- 
mobile — she stole a package of thousand-dollar 
Liberty Bonds. [Looks at bond.] It's number 
thirty- two, four, eight, nine, six, four, one. [Looks 
at newspaper.] By George, this is one of the stolen 
bonds. The missing numbers run from thirty-two 
forty-eight ninety-six thirty to thirty-two forty- 
eight ninety-eight thirty. The thief got away with 
two hundred thousand dollars, and this is one of 
the bonds. This is very important. Come out and 
show me exactly where you were standing when 
you found it. 

Nancy. 

Shouldn't we tell Mrs. Gray? Maybe she'll know 
who owns it. 

Borden. 

Certainly not. There is a reward of five thou- 
sand dollars for the apprehension of the thief and 
we have the only clue. 

Aggie. 
It's mine. I want it. 

Borden. 
You keep still. Don't say a word about finding 
anything. Let me investigate this. You won't say 
anything about it, will you? 



Aggie. 



Can I chew the gum? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 7 

Borden. 
Oh, yes. Chew anything you like, only keep still. 
[Leads her to c. e.] Now show me just where you 
were standing. 

Nancy. 

[Joins them up c] I want to see, too. 

[As Borden, Aggie and Nancy start out rear 
l. from c. e. Miss Match comes down the 
stairs from rear r. She carries a live cat. 

Miss Match. 

Good-morning. [They respond.] Surely you 
haven't had breakfast this early. 

Borden. 

Oh, yes. The early birds catch the worm, you 
know. 

Miss Match. 

I hope I'm not too late. I have a fearful appe- 
tite. 

Aggie. 

You and me both. I ate everything they had on 
the table and I'm still hungry. 

Miss Match. 

I was wondering if we couldn't get up a little 
game of auction this morning, Mr. Borden. It's so 
nice and cool. You auction, don't you? 

Borden. 
Not much, Miss Match. I poke. 

Miss Match. 
Poke? Poke? 



1 8 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 
He means he's a poker fiend. Isn't it awful ? 

Miss Match. 
Men are all fond of poker. [Simpers.] I used 
to have a gentleman friend in the wholesale business 
in Hamilton, Ohio, who promised to teach me to 
play poker, but mamma wouldn't allow me to learn. 
She didn't approve of young girls playing poker. 

Aggie. 
Young girls ? What do you mean young girls ? 

Miss Match. 
Oh, that was several years ago. 

Aggie. 
I'll bet it was. 

Miss Match. 

[Looks toward l.] Oh, here is Mrs. Gray. 
Maybe she plays auction. 

[Enter Mrs. Gray from l. 

Nancy. 

We're going for a stroll in the gardens. 

[Exit, rear l., with Borden and Aggie. 

Miss Match. 
[Crosses to l. c, meeting Mrs. Gray.] You do 
play auction, don't you, Mrs. Gray? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Law no, Miss Match. I don't know one card 
from another. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 9 

Miss Match. 

I'm so ashamed of myself coming down to break- 
fast so late. On the very first morning, too. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, you're not late. Kittie will get you any- 
thing you like. 

Miss Match. 

Isn't that lovely ! But the Bordens finished early, 
didn't they? I'll have to be on time to-morrow. I 
hate to eat breakfast alone, or with a lot of women 
folks. I think a man at the table gives it such an 
air of distinction, don't you? But there, you'll 
think I'm awfully giddy ! But it's just my tempera- 
ment. Mamma always says I'm so lively and that 
that's what makes me so popular. The maid told 
me another man arrived last night on the late train. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. A Mr. Greener. 

Miss Match. 
Is he young? 

Mrs. Gray. 
About twenty-two. 

Miss Match. 
Good looking? 

Mrs. Gray. 

I thought he looked like a real nice boy. I ain't 
much of a judge. 

Miss Match. 
He hasn't been down to breakfast yet, has he ? 



20 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Smiles.] No. 

Miss Match. 
Say, Mrs. Gray, who had the room next to mine 
last night? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Let me see. You were in twelve, weren't you ? 

Miss Match. 
Yes, twelve. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Miss Blake was in Number Eleven. 

Miss Match. 
The housekeeper? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. Why? 

Miss Match. 
Do you now I think there's something wrong with 
that girl. 

Mrs. Gray. 
With Mary? She wasn't very well last night. 
Why do you think there's anything wrong with 

Mary? 

Miss Match. 
Oh, the way she looks at folks as if she was 
scared to death. And then I heard her crying in 
her room last night. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 21 

Mrs. Gray. 
Crying ? 

Miss Match. 
Yes, not hollering out loud, or anything like that, 
but just low subdued sobs like she didn't want any 
one to hear her. I'm so temperamental anyway, it 
almost gave me the hysterics the way she took on. 
Once I thought I'd call you. What do you suppose 
is the matter with her ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

She's probably a little homesick, that's all. She's 
been visiting her people at Watertown. 

Miss Match. 
Homesick ? Don't you believe it. [Shakes fore- 
finger impressively.] There is only one thing on 
earth can make a girl carry on like she did. Only 
one thing. [Short impressive pause.] A man. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, I guess you're mistaken. I've known Miss 
Blake nearly a year over in France and here in New 
York and I never heard her mention a man. No ? 
she's not interested in men and men ain't interested 
in her. 

Miss Match. 
Men ain't interested in her? That explains the 
whole thing. No wonder she was crying. I know 
just how she felt, the poor thing. Has she met Mr. 
Borden? 

Mrs. Gray. 
No, she hasn't seen him yet. 



22 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Miss Match. 

The maid told me he was a flirt. [Giggles.] 
Ain't that awful? But men can't help that, can 
they? It's just man nature to flirt. Hasn't he got 
a handsome nose ? I wonder if he's engaged or any- 
thing like that. You'd better go up and see Miss 
Blake. She was crying again this morning. Don't 
tell her I told you. Maybe she wouldn't want it 
known. It sounded real pathetic and got me so 
upset that I could hardly get my shoes tied. 
[Crosses to door at l.] My, that coffee smells good. 
If the other young man comes down to breakfast 
tell him to come right in and I'll take care of him. 
I just love to eat breakfast with a man. 

[Giggles and exits at l. 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Follows her to door l. ; after Miss Match is 
well out Mrs. Gray calls. ] Kittie ! 

KlTTIE. 

[Outside at L.] Yas'm? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Come here a minute. [Enter Kitty at l. 

Kittie. 
Yas'm? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Go up to Miss Blake's room, Number Eleven, and 
ask her if she feels well enough to come down to 
breakfast. 

Kittie. 
Is she sick? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 23 

Mrs. Gray. 
I don't know. She wasn't feeling well last night. 

Kittie. 
Maybe I'd better take her up a good dose ob 
Epsom Bitters. 

Mrs. Gray. 
No. If she isn't well tell her I'll come up. 

Kittie. 

[Ate. e.] Yas'm. 

[Exit up stairs at rear r. Enter Bub from l. 

Bub. 
Excuse me. The cook said you was in here. 
You're Mis' Gray, ain't you? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. 

Bub. 
I got a telygram. 

Mrs. Gray. 
For me ? 

Bub. 

Nup. Not unless'n your name's Mr. Billy, and 
I don't suspicion it is. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Mr. Billy has engaged a room but I don't expect 
him before to-morrow. I'll take the telegram. 

Bub. 
It's a kinda suspicious telygram, Mis' Gray. 



24 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
Suspicious ? 

Bub. 
It's writ in a code. Is it all right? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Is what all right ? 

Bub. 

Wall, you see that name Billy fer a last name 
don't sound right. That made me suspicious jest 
as soon as I heerd it. And then when I found it 
was writ in code — Good-night ! — you know they had 
a big bank robbery over at Watertown and there's 
five thousand dollars reward offered fer Getaway 
Bell, her as committed the robbery. She escaped in 
a automobile headed in this direction. I read that 
in yesterday's paper and I ain't slep' a wink since. 
Maybe this Mr. Billy is Getaway Bell in disguise. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Nonsense ! 

Bub. 

You never kin tell. It's jest little things like that 
that makes clues. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'll take the telegram, please. 

Bub. 
All right, you're the doctor. [Hands her the tele- 
gram.] Sign right there. [Hands her book and 
pencil.] And ef anything happens, wall, you can't 
blame it on Bub Dusenberry, nohow. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 25 

Mrs. Gray. 
Who's Bub Dusenberry? 

Bub. 
Me. [Takes book.] Twenty-five cents charges. 

Mrs. Gray. 
All right. [Hands him a quarter. 

Bub. 

Say, Mis' Gray 

Mrs. Gray. 

Well? 

Bub. 

You ain't got no opening up here at the Inn fer a 
good live boy to git a job, have you? 

Mrs. Gray. 
What kind of a job? 

Bub. 

Wall, I'd ruther be a detective than anything else, 
but I don't cal'late you need a detective. I'd be a 
awful handy bell-boy, er a night clerk, and I kin 
make the beds, split wood, carry coal, peel potatoes, 
cut hair, tend the furnace, wash the winders, mind 
babies fer folks, play the talkin' machine and tend 
bar! 

Mrs. Gray. 
Where are you working now ? 

Bub. 

No place reg'lar. I ain't got a stiddy job just 
now. I carry messages fer the telygraph office and 



26 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

jerk sody on Saturday at the drug-store. Mornings 
I turn the wringer and hang out the clothes, fer maw 
and at nights I cook quick lunches at the depot 
cafe. I'm aimin' to be a detective some day and 
already took three lessons in a correspondence 
school. Not a ordinary detective, y' know — hut one 
of them kind that goes around in disguise and hunts 
fer clues. Ain't got a opening, have you? 

[li ntcr KiTTiE down stairs at rear R. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I rather think I have. How would you like to 
do the general chores for ten dollars and board? 

Bub. 
A month ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
No, a week. 

Bub. 
A week ? | Does dance step and poses. ] I'm on, 
and I'm ready to start right away. 

[Pronounce the last two words very fast. 

Mrs. Gray. 
As quick as that? 

Bub. 
[Rapidly.] As quick as that. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Kittie, how is Miss Blake? 

KlTTIE. 

She ain' a feelin' right well, Mis' Mabel. I 
'lowed she'd better lemme make her a good dose ob 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 27 

Epsom Bitters, but she didn't seem to want none. 
She's comin' down. 

Mrs. Gray. 
This young man is goin' to help you in the kitchen, 
Kittie. His name is Dusenberry. 

Kittie. 
Gooseberry ? 

Bub. 
Naw, nothin' like it. Dusenberry, but folks gen- 
erally call me Bub. 

Kittie. 
You say you wanta start right away ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. Have you anything for him to do? 

Kittie. 

Has I? Has I? Come on wif me, boy. I got 
about 'leben tons ob potatoes to peel for dinner 
and I shore does need some assistance. \W addles 
to door at l.] Dis yere gittin' started in a new hotel 
am mighty strainin' business. Mighty strainin' ! 

[Exit l., followed by Bub. Soft music: 
chorus of " Long, Long Trail." 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Reads address on telegram.] Mr. Billy, Silver 

Trout Inn, Skeehawken, New York. [Pause.] 

My last hope, my last hope! [Puts telegram on 

table. After slight pause Mary Blake enters 



28 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

down stairs tip R. She pauses in c. e., registering 
sadness. Mrs. Gray at l. of center table.] It's 
all right, Mary. There's no one here. [Mary 
comes down c. slowly and sadly, and sits r. of center 
table. Mrs. Gray sits at l. of table. Mary sighs 
and puts handkerchief to her eyes. ] Ain't you feel- 
ing well, Mary ? 

Mary. 
Oh, I mustn't give way like this, I mustn't. It 
isn't right. You are so kind to me, Mrs. Gray. 
You've helped me so much. I'll try to control 
myself, indeed I will. I've been feeling a little blue, 
I guess. You see my visit home wasn't much of a 
success. The house was closed up and no one in 
Watertown seemed to remember me. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Now, don't you worry, Mary. I guess you've got 
friends here. 

Mary. 
I know it. But it's all so different, so new — this 
is the beginning of a new life for me, it's a new 
start and I [Pauses, shakes head sadly. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I know just how you feel, Mary. But if it's a 
new start, make it a good one. Let us help each 
other. We have each gone through with enough 
horror over there in France to make us want to 
forget the past. And we will. We'll take a fresh 
start together. No one knows you here. You can 
take a new lease on life and let the dead past bury 
its dead. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 29 

Mary. 
How can I? [Passionately.] How can I — when 
every man or woman I see seems to be shrieking my 
secret in my very face, " Mary Blake, I know you ! 
You can't hide away any longer. I know you! I 
know you ! " [Rises emotionally. The music ends. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Comes to her and takes her in her arms.] There, 
there, honey. You're all upset. You're nervous. 
You'll be all right after breakfast. 

Mary. 

I didn't seem to mind it over there in France 
where I was doing what I could to help others 
more miserable than myself, but last week when I 
visited my old home it all came back to me again. 
The fear, the dejection, the shame! I try to for- 
get, I know it's best to forget, but I can't, I can't! 
[Weeps on Mrs. Gray's shoidder. 

Mrs. Gray. 

You'll have to be brave, Mary. Every soul has 
its big battle and this is yours. You've got to make 
your big fight all alone, but you've got to win. It 
won't be easy, but you've got to meet your trouble 
face to face and conquer it. You can do it. I 
know you can. I have seen you over there in the 
hospital with the battle raging outside. Do you 
remember that night when you assisted in an opera- 
tion and the shells of the enemy shattered the walls 
of the very room where you were working? You 
didn't give way then, and you won't give way now. 
I'll help you. 



30 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 

I know you will. It seems that God sent you to 
me just when I needed you the most. You have 
been like a dear mother to me — the only one I have 
ever known — and I will try to be my old self again. 
I can do it. I will ! [Stands by center table. 

Mrs. Gray. 

That's right. That's the way I like to hear my 
girl talk. Now, forget everything that has worried 
you and take a fresh start. Let's go in to breakfast. 

Mary. 

[Has picked up the telegram from the table, reads 
the name and starts. ] Mr. Billy ! 

•Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. It came this morning. I'm expecting him 
some time to-morrow. 

Mary. 
It's a peculiar name. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Isn't it? Did you ever hear it before? 

Mary. 
Yes, I knew a man by that name in France. 

Mrs. Gray. 
A soldier? 

; Mary. 

I don't think so. There was something very mys- 
terious about him. He never used to wear any 
uniform, and no one knew his connection with the 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 31 

army, but he was severely wounded at Chateau- 
Thierry. [Slight pause, then she looks Mrs. Gray 
steadily in the eyes.] Sometimes I think he was in 
the secret service. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Maybe he was a civilian. 

Mary. 
He was an American, I'm sure. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Many American civilians were in the danger zone. 

Mary. 
But he was in the midst of the battle. I always 
wondered why he wasn't in uniform. The boys 
told wonderful tales of his bravery. He led three 
or four of our privates into a German dugout and 
captured a machine-gun and five of the enemy. 
There was a terrible hand-to-hand fight and Mr. 
Billy was badly wounded. Do you suppose he is 
here in New York? 

Mrs. Gray. 

I don't know. My lawyers wrote to me that a 
Mr. Billy would be here at the Inn for a few days 
for a business discussion. They recommended him 
highly, but I rather imagined that he would be an 
elderly gentleman. Did you like him ? 

Mary. 

Very much. Every one liked him. He was in 
our hospital nearly three months, then one day he 
disappeared. 



32 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
Disappeared? What for? 

Mary. 

No one knew. We never learned what had be- 
come of him. I thought at the time it was rather 
strange, but probably he was transferred to some 
other hospital. 

Mrs. Gray. 

He must have made quite an impression on [slight 
pause, as she looks slyly at Mary] the nurses. 

Mary. 

Yes. I remember one night 

[Enter Gene Greener rapidly down the 
stairs at rear r. 

Gene. 
[Loud, quick and cheerful.] Mornin', ladies. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Good-morning, Mr. Greener. Miss Blake, Mr. 
Greener. Miss Blake is the housekeeper. 

Gene. 
Then I've got to apologize to the housekeeper the 
first thing. I hope I'm not too late for breakfast. 
You see, Miss Blake, I didn't get in until nearly 
midnight, came in on the night train, hit the hay 
right away and didn't wake up till ten minutes ago. 
I set my alarm clock for seven but it never fazed 
me. If I can have a cup of coffee I'll promise 
never to oversleep again. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 33 

Mrs. Gray. 

Why, certainly. Go right in the dining-room. 
Miss Match is in there. 

Gene. 
Miss Match? Parlor or sulphur? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Oh, parlor, decidedly. 

Gene. 
I hope she won't flare up when I strike her. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Oh, no. She's just dying to meet you. 

Gene. 
Oh, she's one of the dying kind, is she? Well, 
I'll see you after breakfast. No mail for me, was 
there ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
No. 

Gene. 
I didn't look for any, so I'm not disappointed. 
Now to meet the languishing Miss Match. 

[Exit, at l. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Mary, you'd better go in and get a cup of coffee. 

Mary. 
Yes, I will. [Starts to l.] Then I'm going over 
the whole house and start a regular cleaning cam- 
paign before the third-floor rooms are filled. 



34 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
That's right. Hard work, they say, drives trou- 
ble away. I hope my Mr. Billy turns out to be your 
hospital hero. He intends to stay a week at least 
and it would do you good to meet an old friend 
again. 

Mary. 
Yes, I'm sure it would, especially a man like Mr. 
Billy. [Exit, l. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Looks after her and smiles; slight pause.] And 
I was just like that thirty years ago. Me and John ! 
[Sighs.] I wonder if I'll ever see my John again. 
[The noise of a distant aeroplane is heard; 
this effect may be simulated by the muf- 
fled sound of a motor-cycle. Enter 
Nancy, Aggie and Borden from c. e. 
from rear l. 

Aggie. 
Oh, Mis' Gray, what do you think? 

Nancy. 
There's an air-ship flying up the mountain. 

Mrs. Gray. 

An air-ship? Yes, I thought I heard it. 

[All go to window and look out. 

Borden. 
Can you see him? [Enter Miss Match from L. 

Miss Match. 
[At window.] It sounded like an aeroplane. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 35 

Nancy. 
Yes, we saw it. 

Aggie. 
Oh, I wonder if they're going to drop down a 
bomb or anything. 

Miss Match. 
[Suddenly points and exclaims.] There he is. 
See him ! He's coming here. 

Mrs. Gray. 
How low he is flying. 

Borden. 
He's trying to make a landing. 

Miss Match. 

Maybe he's looking for me. I have several gen- 
tlemen friends in the air service. I'm just crazy to 
have one of 'em take me up in the air. 

Nancy. 
He's lighting. Maybe he's out of gas. 

Aggie. 
[Very excited.] Oh, I want to see him light. I 
want to see him light. 

[Rushes out c e. and off up l. 

Borden. 
Come, Nancy. [Follows Aggie out. 

Nancy. 
Isn't it exciting? [Exit, c. e. to rear l. 



36 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
[To Miss Match.] Don't you want to see him? 

Miss Match. 

Oh, I couldn't bear it. It would make me so 
nervous, and he might be wounded or something. 
I can't stand to see any one in danger, it makes me 
so fainty. I'd better go back and finish my coffee. 
Tell the air-ship man to stay to breakfast. I'll wait 
for him in the dining-room. 

[Exit, l. Enter Bub from l. 

Bub. 

Say, that feller is tryin' to light right in the 
middle of our rhubarb patch. He's certainly got 
his nerve. You want me to throw him out? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, no. Go out and see if you can help him. 
Ask him in to breakfast. 

[Bub exits at c. e. to rear l„ A shrill scream 
is heard off L. from Miss Match. Mrs. 
Gray, who has followed Bub to the door, 
now turns and comes dozvn c. Enter, 
from l., Miss Match, wringing her hands 
and much agitated. 

Miss Match. 
Oh, oh, what do you think ? Oh ! 

[Feebly sinks in chair down l. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Hurries to her.] What is it? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 37 

Miss Match. 
Kitty ! 

Mrs. Gray. 
Kittie? What's happened to Kittie? 

Miss Match. 
She's disappeared. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Startled.] Disappeared? Kittie? 

Miss Match. 

She's run away. 

[Crosses to R., much agitated, wringing her 
hands and groaning. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Also excited, following her.] Isn't she in the 
kitchen ? 

Miss Match. 
No, I looked there. She was on Mr. Greener's 
lap in the dining-room when I came in and she 
jumped down and ran away. 

Mrs. Gray. 
On Mr. Greener's lap? Kittie! 

Miss Match. 
He ran after her and kicked her. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Kicked her? 



38 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Miss Match. 

Right in the pantry, right before my very eyes. 
I never saw such a man. 

Mrs. Gray. 

I'll see what it's all about. 

[Starts toward l. Enter Gene from L. 

Miss Match. 
There he is. Cruel, heartless man. She's gone 
— you've driven her away. She's lost to me for- 
ever. 

Gene. 

[At l., savagely.] Then keep her out of the 
dining-room. 

Mrs. Gray. 
But that's where she belongs. 

Gene. 

You see, it was this way. She was on my 
lap 

Mrs. Gray. 
What was she doing on your lap? 

Gene. 
Just sitting there. 

Miss Match. 
[At r.] Yes, I came in and saw them. 

Gene. 

Then she jumped down and I must have stepped 
on her tail. [Comes to L. c 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 39 

Mrs. Gray. 
[At c] On her tail! [Enter Kittie from l. ; 
she stands in the doorway.] Kittie, what were you 
doing on Mr. Greener's lap? 

[Kittie looks astonished, blinking her eyes. 
All hold tableau a moment. 

Kittie. 
[After pause.] On his lap? On whose lap? 

Gene. 
[To Mrs. Gray.] No, no, you don't understand. 

Kittie. 
I ain't been on nobody's lap. I's a 'spectable 
cullud membah ob de African-Mefodist Church, I 
is, and I don't go settin' in no man's lap. 

[Crosses down l. 

Gene. 
It was the cat. 

Miss Match. 
[At r.] Yes, my poor little kitty. 

Gene. 
Never mind, I'll buy you another one if she don't 
come back. [Enter Bub from c. e., carrying the cat. 

Bub. 
Anybody lost a cat? 

Miss Match. 
[Rushes to him at rear c] Oh, you brave, kind, 
darling boy! [Kisses Bub, who stands aghast.] 
It's my kitty. [Takes cat] Come to muzzer, dol- 



40 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

ling. Did nassy old man kick you in the pantry? 
Come wiz muzzer. 

[Exit, c. e., up stairs and off rear R. 

Gene. 
Now maybe I can finish my breakfast. 

[Starts off l. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Following him.] But don't take Kittie in your 
lap any more. [Crosses up c. 

Gene. 
You bet I won't. [Exit, l. 

Kittie. 

If dat man eber takes me in his lap, I'll carve him 
on de head wif a razor, and I'll carve him deep. 
[1 J ^addling to door, l.] I ain't gwine to let no man 
fool wif me. No, ma'am. I ain't dat kin' ob a girl. 

[Exit, l. 

Bub. 

There was two men in that air-ship car. One of 
'em's sick, er sump'm. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Sick? [Hurries to c. e. 

Bub. 

It looks like old Ishmael, who lives up in the 
mountains. 

[Exit, c. e. and off rear l., followed by Mrs. 
Gray. After a slight pause, Miss Match 
comes down stairs, entering from c. E. 
from up r. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 41 

Miss Match. 
[In her giddy old-maid tones.] Is there any one 
here? [She looks around and as soon as she real- 
izes that she is alone a complete change occurs in 
her deportment, — she is no longer the farcical old 
maid, but a keen, clever woman. Take plenty of 
time for the following pantomime, as it is very im- 
portant. She glances quickly around, crosses to 
table at c, where Mrs. Gray left the telegram. 
Miss Match quickly takes it up and reads the ad- 
dress.] Mr. Billy, Silver Trout Inn, Skeehawken, 
New York. [She faces front and pauses as if puz- 
zled.] Hm! [Glances cautiously around, carefully 
opens message and reads it hastily. She frowns.] 
A code message. [Picks up card and pencil from 
the table and copies the message on the card, read- 
ing aloud from telegram.] Seventeen — 36K — nine 
— naught — Watertown. [She starts on the last 
zvord, registering fright, repeats in a whisper of 
fear.] Watertown! [Glances around and then 
continues copying and reading.] Seventeen — 60B 
— 21 — 3X — naught — 47R — 9 — naught, " await or- 
ders." [Looks up at audience.] And no signature. 
[Carefully replaces telegram in the envelope, seals 
it and puts it back on the table, takes card, crosses 
to stairs, turns, facing audience, pauses.] I won- 
der who this Mr. Billy is. [Meditates.] Can he 

be ? [Pause.] I wonder. 

[Exit up stairs slozvly and out rear r. 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Speaking outside at rear L.] Bring him right 
into the house. 

[Enter from c. E. from rear l., followed by 
Bub. 



42 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Bub. 

I wonder how old Ishmael happened to be ridin' 
in a air-ship. He's a hermit who lives way up the 
mountain. He never comes to town and I'll bet he 
never saw a train of cars in all his hull life. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Tell Kittie to put on some hot water and bring 
my first-aid kit to Room 3. 

Bub. 
[Making no move to obey.] Yes'm. What do 
you suppose they was doin' up in a air-ship? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Never mind. Hurry up ! 

Bub. 

[Hurrying to door at l.] Yes'm, I'm a-hurryin'. 

[Exit, l. 

Billy. 

[Speaking outside at rear l.] Careful, careful! 
Don't jar his head. [Pause.) Easy, there. That's 
right. 

[Mrs. Gray crosses to c. e. Enter from 
c. e. Borden and Billy, supporting Ish- 
mael, who has his arms around their 
necks. Ishmael's eyes are closed and he 
appears very feeble. Nancy and Aggie 
enter quietly and stand at c. e. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Crossing to door, r.] Bring him in here. 

[Exit, r. Borden and Billy lead Ishmael 
off at r. very slowly. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 43 

Aggie. 
[Suppressed excitement.] Oh, Nancy, is it the 
hermit ? 

Nancy. 
Yes, that's what they said. 

Aggie. 
Will he die? 

Nancy. 
I don't know. He's fainted, I guess. 

Aggie. 
I wonder if they'd let me in to see him. 

Nancy. 
Certainly not. 

Aggie. 
I never saw him before and I'm just crazy to get 
a good look at him. 

Nancy. 
Well, you can't. Maybe he's dying. 

Aggie. 

Oh, I'd just love to see him. All the girls at 
school down in Skeehawken say some lady broke 
his heart years and years ago. Lizzie Carter saw 
him once in the woods, and it almost scared her to 
death. And he was just as frightened as she was. 
He ran one way and she the other. [Crosses to R.] 
I'm going in. They can't do no more than fire me 
out. 



44 AND BILL Y DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 
[Takes her by the arm and leads her to c. e.] 
You are not. There are too many in there already. 
You come right up-stairs to your room. 

Aggie. 

[Whines.] I am' goin' to. I wanna see him, 
and I wanna see the air-ship man. Lemme go in. 
I wanna see the hermit. 

Nancy. 

Keep still. If he saw you it would make him 
worse. He'd have a relapse right away. 

[Leads her out at rear r. and up stairs. En- 
ter Bub from l., carrying a kettle of water. 

Bub. 
Here's the water. [Hurrying to r., spills sonic] 
Gosh ! Wow, that's hot. Like to scalded the skin 
clean ofl'n my fool hand. Hotter 'n old Jim Crow. 

[Enter Mrs. Gray from r. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Take the water in, Bub. 

Bub. 
[At door, r.] Yes'm. Is he dead yit? 

Mrs. Gray. 

No. He's still in a faint. I think it's exhaus- 
tion. 

Bub. 
Exhaustion? Gee, that must be awful. 

[Exit, r. Enter Mary from L. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 45 

Mary. 

The boy said there had been an accident. Can I 
help you ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

A man was flying up the mountain in an aero- 
plane. He saw an old man crossing- a bridge. The 
old man was evidently exhausted and fell into the 
river. The aeronaut got him out and brought him 
here. 

Mary. 
[Crosses to door at r. ] Maybe I can help them. 

Mrs. Gray. 
He seems in a sort of a daze. 

Mary. 

[Opens door at r. and looks in; starts back with 
an exclamation.] Oh! 

Mrs. Gray. 



What is it? 
It's Mr. Billy. 
It is? 



Mary. 
Mrs. Gray. 



Mary. 

Yes, the man I knew in the French hospital. 

[Comes down c. to Mrs. Gray? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Don't you want to go in and see him ? 



46 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 

Not now, please. I'm not very well. I'll see him 
this afternoon. 

Mrs. Gray. 

I didn't expect him until to-morrow. And to 
think he came in an air-ship. [Crosses to door at R. 

Mary. 

The man I knew in France. I can hardly real- 
ize it. 

Mrs. Gray. 

There's nothing like meeting old friends. He's 
awful good looking, isn't he ? 

Mary. 
Yes. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Well, I hope you'll feel better. You haven't been 
well since you came back from Watertown. 

[Enter Miss Match down stairs; she comes 
in c. e. from up r. 

Miss Match. 
Who was the man they carried in ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
An old hermit who fainted from exhaustion. 

Miss Match. 

A hermit? Isn't that romantic? 

[Looks at Mary. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, you haven't met Miss Blake, have you? 
Miss Match, Miss Blake, the new housekeeper. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 47 

[Ladies bow formally, Miss Match at c, Mary 
down l.] Now you must excuse me. I have to 
look after the patient. 

{Exit at r. As soon as Mrs. Gray makes 
her exit Miss Match crosses down to 
Mary and stands looking at her in a domi- 
neering manner. Soft music: Chorus of 
" Long, Long Trail." Mary is distressed. 

Miss Match. 
[Coldly, in her natural voice; all traces of her 
" old maid " manner are now laid aside. ] You were 
crying all night. Haven't you any control of your- 
self at all? 

Mary. 

Oh, don't, don't! Why did you come here? 
Why couldn't you leave me in peace? 

[Crosses to chair at l. and sits. 

Miss Match. 

Where else could I go? I thought we would be 
safe here in this out-of-the-way place. Mrs. Gray 
is your friend and if the worst comes to the worst 
you can count on her. 

Mary. 

We mustn't be seen together. Don't you realize 
how dangerous it is? 

Miss Match. 
It is more dangerous than you think. Pull your- 
self together ; we have work to do. We'll probably 
have to leave to-night. 



48 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
Leave ? Why ? 

Miss Match. 
Because it isn't safe here. They're after us. 

Mary. 

I can't do it. I won't do it. I'm not afraid, I 
have been a coward too long. Now I'm going to 
show my hand. [Rises and faces Miss Match 
bravely.] I intend to stay here and if there is any 
danger I'll meet it face to face. 

Miss Match. 
You can't. 

Mary. 

I can. Do you think I'm going back to the old 
life? Until I went to France I never knew a mo- 
ment's peace. Over there I found out the true 
meaning of life ; my past was blotted out and I made 
a fresh start. There was a man over there who 
asked me to be his wife. He is here to-day. 

Miss Match. 
[Startled. ] Here ? 

Mary. 
He just came. 

Miss Match. 
But you can't marry him. 

Mary. 

Why can't I ? Why should I be hounded all my 
life by bitter memories of the past? I tell you I 
made a fresh start. I'm going straight. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 49 

Miss Match. 
[Sneers.] Straight? Getaway Bell going 
straight? That would be welcome news down at 
the police headquarters, wouldn't it? Welcome 
news! The reformation of Getaway Bell! It 
would look well in print. 

Mary. 
[Sinks in chair and buries her face in her hands.] 
Oh, don't, don't ! 

Miss Match. 
[Bending over her, speaking in a subdued but 
perfectly audible voice, malignancy in every tone.] 
Do you suppose the men at headquarters will let 
you go straight? Do you suppose that they will 
give up the chase after that Watertown haul? 
You think you can live down your past, do you? 
Well, you can't. No matter where you are, no 
matter what you are — every day, every hour you'll 
be hounded by the fear that they are after you. 
You'll shrink from every stranger in the street, 
you'll suspect every one you meet. You may hide 
from the gang, you may hide from the police, but 
you can't hide from yourself. 

Mary. 
What do you want me to do? 

Miss Match. 
Nothing, at present. I am waiting for news 
from Croak. [Crosses to table and picks up tele- 
gram.] You see this message. 

[Play the next scene rapidly until Miss 
Match exits. 



50 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
[Follows her.] A telegram for Mr. Billy. That's 
the man. 

Miss Match. 
What man? 

Mary. 
The man I knew in France. 

Miss Match. 
The man who wanted to marry you? 

Mary. 
Yes. 

Miss Match. 

And do you know who he is? Do you know 
what he is? He is the man who's after us, the 
plain clothes man from headquarters. 

Mary. 
It isn't true. 

Miss Match. 

It is true. I read that message. It's written in 
code, all but three words. " Await orders " and 
" Watertown." 

Mary. 
[Starts.] Watertown? 

Miss Match. 

[Crosses to stairs up r.] That message is from 
the New York police. [Exit, up stairs. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 5 1 

Mary. 
[Standing by table, facing front, horror and 
agony depicted on face; pause long enough to count 
twenty.] A plain clothes man from headquarters. 
[Sinks in chair by table, buries face in arms on 
table, sobbing.] It's all over. My dream is over, 
my dream is over! [Sobs. 



SLOW CURTAIN, 



ACT II 

SCENE. — The same setting as Act I, but it is now 
8 p. m. and the lights on the stage are lit. 
Strong firelight effect from the fireplace 
down L. 

Nancy is discovered at the rise of the curtain 
seated at the piano playing. Borden is read- 
ing a newspaper at center table. Nancy fin- 
ishes her piano selection as the curtain rises. 

Borden. 
Where's Aggie ? 

Nancy. 

Up in my room reading. She found an old book 
of fairy tales in the library and Mrs. Gray loaned 
it to her. 

Borden. 

I hope she'll be able to keep out of mischief for 
once in her life. 

Nancy. 
Don't worry so much about your sisters, Romeo. 
I think we can take care of ourselves. 

Borden. 
I'm afraid Aggie will say something about that 
Liberty Bond. 

52 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 53 

Nancy. 

I don't think she will. She's old enough to know- 
that it is important to keep still. Have you come to 
any conclusion yet ? 

Borden. 

No, I can't imagine where it came from. If it 
dropped from one of the up-stairs windows it is al- 
most certain that the thief is here in the Inn. 

Nancy. 
Surely you don't suspect Miss Blake. 

Borden. 

I don't suspect any one yet. I haven't made up 
my mind. I think I'd better go down to New York 
and turn the clue over to the police department. 

Nancy. 
Why not go to Watertown? 

Borden. 

The paper said that the bank had placed the case 
in the hands of the Ryan Detective Agency of New 
York. 

Nancy. 

I'm sure Miss Blake isn't a thief. 

Borden. 
Why? 

Nancy. 
I hardly know. Intuition, I guess. She has such 
a sad, sweet face. I think she's a regular darling. 
You don't think that bond came from her room, do 
you? 



54 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Borden. 

No, I don't think it did. But it certainly came 
from somewhere; 

Nancy. 
Miss Blake is an angel. 

Borden. 
She seemed a little cold to me. 

Nancy. 

Angels generally do; it's the other kind that are 
warm. 

[Crosses to table, takes up pink knitting and 
sits r. of center table knitting. 

Borden. 

But she is so distant. She hardly noticed me at 
dinner. 

Nancy. 

What did you expect her to do? Fall on your 
neck and kiss you? 

Borden. 

Well, considering the fact that we've been regular 
patrons of the Silver Trout Inn for the past five 
years she might be a little more demonstrative. 

Nancy. 
What's become of Mr. Greener? 

Borden. 

Mrs. Gray said that he was spending the day in 
the village. He's a travelling salesman, you know. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 55 

Nancy. 
Is he good looking? 

Borden. 
Oh, rather. But he's awfully young. Haven't 
you met him yet ? 

Nancy. 
I haven't even seen him. 

Ishmael. 
[Off stage at r.] Oh, I'm falling 1 I'm falling. 
The water. Don't let me drown. Oh, oh ! 

[His voice dies away. 

Nancy. 

That poor old man. I don't believe he'll get over 
that fall. 

Borden. 

The doctor said he'll gain consciousness to-night. 
The crisis has passed. 

Nancy. 

Wasn't it lucky that the air-ship man flew by just 
as he tumbled into the river? 

Borden. 

Yes. He's promised to take me up in the aero- 
plane to-morrow if the hermit is better. 

Nancy. 

I'm just dying to meet him. I think he is awfully 
good looking. He's got such a nice nose. 

Borden. 
The hermit ? 



56 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 

Don't be a goose. Mrs. Gray expects several 
other guests to-morrow. A Mrs. Morann and her 
two daughters are coming from Rochester. 

Borden. 

That's good. Two or three live young women 
would waken up the place. 

Nancy. 

I've never been accused of being a dead one be- 
fore. 

Borden. 
Oh, you're my sister. 

Nancy. 

And then there's Miss Match. She's demonstra- 
tive enough. How do you like her? 

Borden. 
About two thousand miles distant. 

Nancy. 
She seems quite taken with you. 

Borden. 

When a woman reaches her age and is still in the 
market she is apt to be taken with every man she 
sees. Who is she anyhow? 

Nancy. 
A wealthy maiden lady from some place in Ohio. 
She's to be here a month, at least. Funny old thing, 
isn't she? She treats that cat like it was a million 
dollar baby. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 57 

Borden. 
I can't see why Miss Blake allows cats in the 
house. I hate 'em. 

Nancy. 
Kittie says she pays regular board for it 

Borden. 
Kittie? 

Nancy. 
Yes, haven't you met Kittie? 

Borden. 
I don't think so. Is she one of the guests? 

Nancy. 
No, she's Mrs. Gray's maid, but she's awfully in- 
teresting. 

Borden. 
Good looking? 

Nancy. 
A dream. She's a brunette with black snappy 
eyes and dark, curly hair. 

Borden. 
Yes? I'm rather partial to brunettes. 

Nancy. 
Then you'll be partial to her. She's a most de- 
cided brunette. 

[Enter Aggie down stairs entering c E. from 
rear R. 



58 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Aggie. 

Say, can I go fishing in the creek to-morrow ? I 
got a whole can of fish-worms hid under the lounge. 

Nancy. 

Fishing? Certainly not. You're getting too old 
to be such a tomboy. 

Aggie. 
If I ever want to do anything I'm always too old, 
or too young. I wonder if I'll ever be just the right 
age. 

Nancy. 

I'm afraid it will be too cold for you to go fishing 
to-morrow. 

Aggie. 

Aw, gee, a girl never gets a chance at nothing. I 
wisht I was a boy, then I wouldn't care whether I 
went fishin' or not. It's awful tough bein' born a 
girl. 

Nancy. 

Why don't you run along up-stairs and finish that 
nice book of fairy stories? 

Aggie. 

Aw, say, that book's too tame. No murders ner 
detectives ner Indians ner nothin'. Just fairies. 
Huh, I'd rather read about vamps. Well, anyhow, 
Mr. Greener's promised to take me riding in his 
flivver to-morrow. 

Nancy. 
I thought you wanted to fish. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 59 

Aggie. 
Well, there are different things to fish for, ain't 
there ? I'm going to fish for a beau ! 

Borden. 
Aggie, .I'm astonished. 

Nancy. 
Aren't you rather young for that, Aggie? 

Aggie. 
Nope. It's a young beau I'm fishing for. When 
I see how scarce the men are nowadays and old 
maids like Miss Match running around loose, it 
makes me think that a girl is never too young to 
start something. And, believe me, I'm going to 
start something. 

Borden. 
You'd better start to bed. 

Aggie. 
Now don't be cross, Romeo. Kittie said you 
were such a nice looking man. 

Borden. 
Kittie? 

Aggie. 
Sure. The maid. She peeked in when you were 
at dinner. She says she knows a fine looking man 
when she sees him, 'cause she's been married three 
times. 

Borden. 
Is that so? 



60 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Aggie. 
[Goes to steps, turns to Borden.] Yes, and in 
July she's going to celebrate the fourth. 

Borden. 

The fourth? 

Aggie. 

Sure. The Fourth of July. 

[Laughs childishly and sits on steps. 

Borden. 
I think I'll have to have a look at Kittie. 

Nancy. 
She's worth looking at. Are you going to flirt 
with her? 

• Borden. 
Oh, I didn't mean that. Maybe that mysterious 
Liberty Bond came from her room. 

Nancy. 
Her room is on the other side of the building. 

Borden. 
At any rate it will do no harm to see her. 

Nancy. 
Oh, you're an awful flirt, Romeo. Now you 
want to meet Kittie. 

Borden. 
[Coughs.] I believe I'm catching cold. Maybe 
she could make me a mint julep. I suppose she is 
in the kitchen. 

[Starts toward l. Enter Mrs. Gray from l. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 6 1 

Nancy. 
Oh, Mrs. Gray, how is the hermit? 

Mrs. Gray. 
He was sleeping when I left about an hour ago. 
I was just going in again. 

Borden. 
[Coughs.] I believe I have a cold. 

Nancy. 
And he wants to see Kittie. 

Mrs. Gray. 
To see Kittie ? What for ? 

Borden. 

I thought she might be able to fix something for 
me. 

Aggie. 

Oh, she will. Kittie's the best little fixer on the 
mountain. 

Nancy. 
My brother is awfully partial to brunettes. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Near l. door.] I'll call her. 

Borden. 

[At l. c] Thank you. I don't like to bother 
you. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, we like to please our guests. [Looks off l. 
and calls. ] Kittie ! 



62 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

KlTTIE. 

[ Outside at l. ] Ma'am ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Come here a moment. 

Nancy. 

[Up r. of Borden, who has crossed to c] Wait 
till you see her, buddy 

Kittie. 
[Outside l.] Yas'm, I'm coming. 

Borden. 
[To Nancy.] What a sweet voice. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Here she is. 

[Kittie appears in doorway at l. 

Kittie. 
You want me? 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Crosses down l.] Mr. Borden wants to speak 
to you. 

Borden. 
[Astounded.] Good Lord! 

Kittie. 
[Goes to Borden.] Yassir, here I am. 

Borden. 
I — er — [rattled] that is — er — I 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 63 

Nancy. 
Go on. 

Aggie. 
Shoot ahead, you're doing fine. 

Borden. 
I just wanted to know if I could [sneezes] — that 
is, if you could [Sneezes. 

Kittie. 
If I could? [Sneezes loudly.] Yassir, I reckon 
I could. [Crosses down to Mrs. Gray.] Say, 
Mis' Mabel, wha's de matter wif dat man? He 
don' ac' right in de haid to me. Callin' me in yere 
to ax me kin I [Sneezes loudly. 

Borden. 
[Coming down c] I'm catching cold. Could 
you give me a little — that is, could you make me a 
mint julep? 

Kittie. 

'Deed and I dunno. Does you 'low a mint julep, 
Mis' Mabel? 

Mrs. Gray. 
[H ?sitates.] Well, I'm not sure. 

Borden. 

It's to ward off a cold. [Sneezes.] Vm always 
troubled with a cold when the weather is bad. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Oh, if you ain't well 



64 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

KlTTIE. 

Dat man wants a good dose ob salts, pine-tar and 
vinegar. Dat's a heap better'n mint julep. Boss, I 
fix you up a description dat's warranteed to kill or 
cure. Jes' leave it to me. I knows how to cure a 
cold, yassir, I shore does. 

Borden. 

[Gives her a silver quarter.] I think a mint 
julep will be sufficient, Kittie. Go easy on the mint 
and strong on the julep. Make it a regular stick of 
julep. 

[Mrs. Gray, who has crossed to l. at rear, 
now exits at l., quietly. 

Kittie. 
Man, I'll make it a log ob wood. My second 
husband, de late Mistah Ephraim Doosy, used to be 
troubled jes' data way like you is, and I reckon I 
knows jes' what kind ob a stick you wants. Leave 
it to me, boss. Dis yere cullud lady is from old 
Kentucky, she is — and she shore knows a stick 
when she sees it. [Laughs.] Dem sticks am 
mighty salubrious in dis kind o' weather. [Crosses 
to door at l. ] Yassir, boss, mighty salubrious, 
mighty salubrious. [Exit, l. 

Borden. 
So that's Kittie, is it? 

Nancy. 
[Laughs.] That's Kittie. She's a decided bru- 
nette, dark curly hair, clear complexon and fast 
color warranted not to bleach, crock nor run. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 65 

Aggie. 
Yeah, how do you like her, buddy ? 

Borden. 
It's time you were in bed, young lady. 

Aggie. 

Oh, I can't stay cooped up there all day and night 
like a hen with the mumps. I gotta get the air once 
in a while and it's too early for bed. You treat me 
like I was a kid. 

Nancy. 
Aren't you ? 

Aggie. 

Not so you can notice it. I'm a young lady, I 
am. And if you don't let me go fishing to-morrow 
morning I'll tell something you don't want me to tell. 

Borden. 

Aggie ! Why on earth do you want to go fish- 
ing? 

Aggie. 

Well, there aren't any men to speak of up here 
at the Inn, so I'm going down to fish and see what 
I can catch. [At steps.] Get me, Steve? 

[Exit up stairs and off at rear r. 

Borden. 
I'll have to have a talk with her. 

Nancy. 

I think you had better turn that bond over to the 
police. 



66 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Borden. 

Maybe that would be best. I'll send a telegram 
to the New York agency to-night. 

Nancy. 

And in the meantime we'd better see if we can't 
keep Aggie quiet. [At steps. 

Borden. 

Yes. She talks entirely too much. [Crossing to 
Nancy.] I've been worried ever since she found 
that note. I'll turn the whole thing over to the 
detectives. 

[Exit up stairs with Nancy and off at rear 
r. Enter Mary from l. She crosses to 
table and arranges the books and papers. 
Mrs. Gray enters from r. and comes down 
to her. 

Mrs. Gray. 
He's sleeping easily now. 

Mary. 

Mrs. Gray, what is the real reason for Mr. Billy's 
visit here? 

Mrs. Gray. 
[Startled.] The real reason ? Why do you think 
he is here? 

Mary. 
I don't know. I can't make it out. I want to 
know. It means a lot to me, Mrs. Gray. He's not 
here simply as a guest at the Inn, is he ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 67 

Mrs. Gray. 
Well, no he ain't. 

Mary. 

And that other man, the old hermit ? 

[Seated l. of center table. 

Mrs. Gray. 

I never seen him before in my life. He's awful 
queer. It gives him a spell to have women in the 
room. If he has a rational moment and sees a 
woman he screams like a maniac. 

[Seated right of center table. Enter Bub 
from r. with kettle. 

Bub. 
He wants some more hot water. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Kittie will get it for you. He's resting easy now, 
ain't he? 

Bub. 

I dunno. He jest lays there all quiet like he was 
dead er sump'm, and then all of a sudden he lets 
out a yell that skeers me clean outa my socks. I 
never seen nothin' like it. I give Mr. Billy his 
telygram. 

Mary. 
• What did he say? 

Bub. 

He said, " All right," and gimme a nickel. And 
he's all right. I knowed jest as soon as I talked to 
him that he wasn't a crook. 



68 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
A crook? Did you think he was a crook? 

Bub. 

Wall, when I saw that telygram writ in code and 
addressed to a man named Billy f er a last name it 
jest naturally made me suspicious of sump'm. But 
he's all right. He's a reg'lar humdinger when it 
comes to nursin'. 

Mary. 
Is there anything we can do ? 

Bub. 
No'm, not a thing. Mr. Billy's doin' it all. Ish- 
mael don't need no women folks. [Turns at L. en- 
trance toward Mary.] All he needs is some hot 
water. [Exit, l. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Ain't it strange that he should turn out to be the 
man you knew in France? 

Mary. 
Yes. That's why I wondered why he came here. 

Mrs. Gray. 
He's a sort of a private detective, or something 
like that. [Mary starts.] He's from Colorado 
and my lawyers sent him here. His uncle used to 
be a friend of my husband. 

Mary. 
But what is he doing here ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 69 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'm going to hire him. 

Mary. 
What for? 

Mrs. Gray. 
To find my husband. 

Mary. 

Find him? Why, I always thought you were a 
widow. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes, every one thinks that. No, Mary, my hus- 
band still lives — at least, I hope so. But I haven't 
seen him for twenty-two years. He — [hesitates, 
registering misery] he — ran away. [Enter Bub 
from l. carrying kettle carefully. He crosses to R. ] 
Bub, ask Mr. Billy if he can come here for a few 
minutes. Tell him an old friend of his is here. 
Just as soon as he can leave his patient. 

Bub. 
Yes'm. [Exit, r. 

Mrs. Gray. 

My lawyers in Denver have the highest regard 
for Mr. Billy. They think if any one can find my 
husband he can. It's a long story, Mary. For 
twenty-two years I've borne my burden in si- 
lence, hoping — praying for the day when I shall see 
him again, when I can kneel at his feet and ask for- 
giveness for one act of folly that separated us years 
ago. 



JO AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
You say he ran away ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. It was this way. My folks had been poor 
miners out in Colorado and I never had much edu- 
cation or anything that makes life happy to a girl. 
John was a teacher in the high school and we met 
and liked each other. He got into some trouble 
with the faculty on account of his socialistic ideas 
and we decided to get married at once and move 
into the mountains. We had two years of heaven 
on earth, me and John, out there in the mountains 
together. My people were just beginning to make 
the mine pay and I was anxious to bring them and 
John together, but he was proud and he quarreled 
with my father. John was a college man and I 
never had any education to speak of, so I decided to 
study at night and try to make myself worthy of 
him. My father made a big strike in the mine and 
was a wealthy man, but John refused to let me see 
him. That wasn't right, was it? 

Mary. 
Why was he so opposed to your father? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, one little thing led to another. They just 
couldn't agree. John was a socialist and father 
wanted him to bring me into the city and live like 
other folks. He offered us a fine home and every- 
thing, but John laughed in his face. Of course that 
led to hard words and John forbid me ever seeing 
my father again. Then he took sick, and we were 
all alone in the mountains. He had a fever and 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 7 1 

often was delirious. I wanted to take him to the 
hospital in town, but he wouldn't even allow me to 
send for a doctor. I didn't know what to do. At 
last he got so bad that I rode for help and took him 
to the hospital in spite of his orders. That was 
right, wasn't it? 

Mary. 
Of course it was. 

Mrs. Gray. 

But it only made matters worse. John kept 
worrying about his expenses. We didn't have any 
money and I didn't know what to do. There was 
the doctors to pay and the nurses and the hospital 
bill. John was worse and I became desperate. I 
appealed to my father. He was glad enough to 
help me and I thought everything was going to be 
all right, but when I got back to the hospital John 
had disappeared. 

Mary. 
Disappeared ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

He escaped from the nurses when they thought 
he was sleeping. He left a letter for me, a bitter, 
bitter letter, saying that I had deserted him in his 
trouble and that he never wanted to see me again. 
We searched everywhere but never found any clue. 
Shortly after that my father died and I was rich — 
rich, but it was too late. My husband had disap- 
peared and my life's happiness was over. I have 
never seen him since, not a letter — not a trace in all 
these years — and I loved him more than my life. 

[Sobs. 



72 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
Have you tried the secret service? 

Mrs. Gray. 
I've tried everything. For twenty-two years the 
detectives have been looking in every part of the 
country. That is why I went into service in France ; 
that is why I am here in the Adirondack Moun- 
tains. I want to be where I can search for him, 
where I can see as many men as possible — hoping — 
praying that I am not too late. 

[Enter Bub from R. 

Bub. 
The hermit's woke up and Mr. Billy says to tell 
you he can't leave him right away. He thinks he 
orter have some milk, er soup, er sump'm. Told 
me to heat him some milk and I told him we didn't 
have none — and we ain't. Then he spoke up real 
sassy and told me to git it anyhow. Wonder what 
he thinks I am — a cow, er sump'm? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Tell Kittie to make him some beef broth. 

Mary. 
There is a jar of beef extract in the refrigerator. 

Bub. 
[At l. door.] Yes'm. [Exit, l. 

Mary. 
And Mr. Billy is trying to help you find your hus- 
band? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 73 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. His uncle used to be an old friend of 
John's in Denver. About three months ago in look- 
ing over his uncle's papers he found an old letter 
of John's, written long before we were married, 
and telling of the beautiful views and good hunting 
in this part of the Adirondack Mountains. My 
lawyers thought it might be a clue and cabled to me. 
I came home as soon as I could and bought this 
place and they sent Mr. Billy to help me. 

Mary. 

That old man in there — do you suppose it is pos- 
sible that he is your husband? 

Mrs. Gray. 

The hermit? Oh, no. He must be over eighty 
years old and John isn't fifty-five yet. Mr. Billy's 
meeting with the hermit was all an accident. 

[Enter Kittie from l., carrying glass of 
julep on tray. 

Mary. 
Kittie, did you make the broth for the sick man? 

Kittie. 

Yes'm, Miss Mary, it's done made. I gotta take 
dis yere mint julep up to dat Mr. Borden. He say 
put a stick in it. [Laughs.] Lawsy, I hopes he'll 
like dat old stick. It's strong enough to make a 
baby mouse fly at a hungry cat. [Smells it.] 
Ummm ! Happy remembrance, happy remem- 
brance ! 

Mrs. Gray. 
You'll find Mr. Borden up in his room. 



74 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

KlTTIE. 

[Crossing to rear r.] Yes*!!!. I certainly hope 
I's got dis yer 'nt julep strong enough for him. 

Mrs. Gray. 
ui 

It mustn't* be too strong, Kittie. 

Kittie. 

[At foot of steps.] No'm, it hain't, 'ceptin' ef he 
takes three glasses ob dis yere concoction he won't 
keer whether he's got de influenzy er not! 

[Exit, c. e. and up stairs. Enter Bub from 
l., carrying a bowl and napkin. 

Bub. 

They're makin' a reg'lar strained nurse outa me. 
[Crossing to r.] I orter wear a red cross on my 
sleeve, er sump'm. [Exit, r. 

Mary. 
Did Mr. Billy get his telegram? 

[Miss Match appears at foot of stairs un- 
observed. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. The boy said it was written in code, and 
Mr. Billy seemed right worried when he read it. 
He asked me all kinds of questions about it; when 
it came and who brought it and where I'd laid it and 
if any one had read it. He's awful suspicious. 
[Sees Miss Match.] Oh! 

Miss Match. 
[In her old maid manner.] How is the sick 
man? I was so nervous up-stairs that I couldn't 
go to bed until I learned how he was. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 75 

Mrs. Gray. 
He's better, I think. 

Miss Match. 

Oh, I'm so glad. I just had to ccme down and 
see if I could do anything for him. [Slight pause.] 
I want to meet the aviator, too. I'm just crazy 
about aviators. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I don't think Mr. Billy will meet any one to-night. 

Miss Match. 

Of course not, it's too late. But I'm so anxious 
to meet him in the morning. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'll introduce him. 

Miss Match. 
Is he a friend of yours? 

Mrs. Gray. 
No, but I know his family. 

Miss Match^ 
What business is he in? 

Mrs. Gray. 

I'm not certain. His uncle was in the wholesale 
paper business. 

Miss Match. 
Well, if there isn't anything I can do for that 
poor old man I think I'll go to bed. My nerves 
have been awfully upset. Good-night. 



76 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
Good-night. 

Miss Match. 
Good-night, Miss Blake. 

Mary. 
[Bows and murmurs.] Good-night. 

Miss Match. 
Are you feeling better ? 

Mary. 
Better? 

Miss Match. 
Yes. I heard you crying last night, you know. 

Mary. 
Oh, yes. I'm much better now, thank you. 

Miss Match. 

A little cry is the best thing in the world for a 
nervous woman, isn't it ? Well, good-night ! 

[Exit up stairs and off rear R. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Funny woman, isn't she? 

Mary. 
Peculiar. [Enter Bub from R. 

Bub. 

The old man's had his supper and gone to sleep. 
Mr. Billy wants to see you a minute, if he kin. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 77 

Mrs. Gray. 
Certainly. 

Bub. 

[At door, r., yells to some one off stage.] She 
says you kin. [Crosses to stairs.] Say, Mis' Gray, 
ef you don't need me no more I think I'll go to bed. 

Mrs. Gray. 
All right. I think your room is all ready. 

Bub. 

Aw, I kin fix it, if it ain't. I'm a dandy cham- 
bermaid. You orter see me sweep the dirt under 
the bed and everything. [Exit up stairs at rear R. 

Mary. 
[Goes to l.] I'll see that everything is locked 
up in the rear of the house. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Don't you want to meet your old friend, Mary? 

Mary. 

Not to-night, please. I'm not feeling quite my- 
self. I'll see Mr. Billy to-morrow. [Exit, at l. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Something is worrying Mary. I can't quite make 
it out. [Enter Billy from R. 

Billy. 
[Crosses down to Mrs. Gray and shakes hands 
with her.] In the first place I want to thank you 
for letting me bring the old man here. He might 



y8 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

have died if we hadn't reached your place just 
when we did. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Was he sick? 

Billy. 

He was half dead from starvation and exhaus- 
tion. I saw him faint as he was passing over a 
bridge. I flew by just as he fell into the water. 
Do you know him? 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Seated at center table.] No. Some one said 
he was an old hermit who lives up in the mountains. 
I don't know many people about here yet. 

Billy. 

He'll be all right in the morning. The crisis has 
passed and he's resting quietly now. 
» [Sits at center table. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I didn't expect you until to-morrow. 

Billy. 

I had my aeroplane and I thought I'd gain a little 
time by using it. [Enter Kittie down stairs. 

Kittie. 

[Crossing to door at l.] Mistah Borden say he's 
gotta go down to the village to-night. 

Mrs. Gray. 
To-night? Why, it's awfully late now. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 79 

KlTTIE. 

He say he gotta send a telygram, and ef you're 
gwine to lock up early he wants to know kin he hab 
de front door key. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'll wait till he comes down. 

Kittie. 

Yes'm. Say, Mis' Mabel, he shore did do justice 
to dat mint julep. He swallowed it, julep, mint, ice 
and all. I declare I like to thought he gwine to 
swallow de tumbler, too. Dat man's shore got a 
capacity for mint juleps, he shore has. 

[Exit, l., still talking. 

Billy. 

I wouldn't mind trying one of her mint juleps 
myself. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Of course. Shall I have her make you one now ? 

Billy. 
No, thank you. I'll wait till to-morrow. I ex- 
pect to be up most of the night with Old Ishmael. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Is there any danger? 

Billy. 

Not in the least. He might want something, 
that's all. [Looks around.] Cosy place you have 
here, Mrs. Gray. 



8o AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 

Isn't it? I met a young girl in France — a nurse 
— who interested me. She wanted something to do 
here at home, so I bought this Inn and put her in 
charge as housekeeper. 

Billy. 
A French nurse, eh? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Oh, no, she's an American. 

Billy. 
Oh! 

Mrs. Gray. 

And my lawyers thought we might get some news 
of John here in the Adirondack^. He wrote a let- 
ter to your uncle years ago saying what a grand 
place this was. 

Billy. 

Yes, I know. I hope we may be able to get some 
clue up here. Our man in Nevada and our men in 
New Mexico have been on false scents. 

[Takes small note-book from pocket and 
looks at it. 

Mrs. Gray. 

He spoke of the mountains in New York in his 
letter. Maybe he has been here all these years. 

Billy. 

[Referring to note-book.] Let me see. He is 
fifty-four years old, has dark eyes and erect car- 
riage. Rather slender. Hair brown. Probably 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 8 1 

gray now. No distinguishing marks or scars. 
Fond of outdoor life, hunting, fishing and trapping. 
Loved solitude. Hated society and railed against 
the idle rich. Liked to be alone in the woods. 
[Slight pause; he looks at her.] Something of a 
hermit, eh ? [Pronounce " eh " like hay. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. [Pause. ] You don't think that he 

[Motions toward door at R. 

Billy. 

Oh, no — not at all. Ishmael must be about 
eighty. And Mr. Gray was a man of education and 
refinement, wasn't he? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. He was a Cornell man. 

Billy. 

My friend in there murders the king's English 
every time he opens his mouth. Still he's lived in 
the mountains for years. Maybe he can give us 
some valuable information. Can't you think of any 
other mark or trait that might help identify your 
husband ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
No, I'm afraid I can't. [Thinks.] Let me see. 
He was very fond of Walt Whitman's poems. 
[Billy makes notes.] He hated artificial flies in 
fishing, and he loved to camp out. It was a regular 
passion with him. He never slept in a bed. He 
used to wrap a blanket around him and sleep before 
the fire, but he always slept in the open if possible. 
[Plant this speech in minds of audience. 



82 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 

Anything else? These little items may be very 
important, you know. 

Mrs. Gray. 

He was very fond of good books, but he cared 
little for music and nothing at all for art. I used to 
paint studies of the mountain landscape in a blank 
book I had but he tore it up and used it for shaving- 
paper. Probably the thing that would help you the 
most was his hatred of wealth and everything it 
could buy. 

Billy. 
That's important. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Can you give me any hope? I have waited so 
long — have been disappointed so much following 
blind clues — but I'll not give up. As long as I have 
a penny, as long as I live — I'll keep up the search. 

Billy. 
What was the nature of his illness when he dis- 
appeared ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

He was just getting over a severe attack of 
typhoid fever. 

Billy. 
Never had any mental or nervous trouble, did he ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
I don't think so. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 83 

Billy. 

Just another question. Have you ever heard of 

Watertown, New York? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes, why ? 

Billy. 
Oh, nothing to do with your husband. I have 
been offered a job over there, but of course I will 
do all I can to help you first. 

Mrs. Gray. 
My housekeeper once lived in Watertown. 

Billy. 
[Shows much interest.] She did? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. She has been visiting there ever since she 
returned from France. She came here only yester- 
day. 

Billy. 
How long was she in Watertown ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

I'm not quite sure. A month, at least. She was 
staying with friends. 

Billy. 

[Quickly.] Who were they? 

[Mary is heard off stage at l. singing the 
chorus of " Long, Long Trail " softly. 



84 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 
I don't remember. 

Billy. 
Didn't you write to her while she was there ? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes, but I addressed the letters to the general 
delivery. 

Billy. 
Listen ! 

Mrs. Gray. 
What is it? [Mary sings a little louder. 

Billy. 

Some one is singing. [Rises.] It sounds like a 
voice I used to hear in France. The song is the 
same, too. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. Mary used to sing it in France. 

Billy. 
Mary? Mary Blake? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. She's my housekeeper. She said she knew 
you. 

Billy. 
Mary Blake your housekeeper ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
Yes. She was your nurse near Chateau-Thierry. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 85 

Billy. 

And [hesitates] — she is the girl who has been 
spending the month in Watertown? 

Mrs. Gray. 

Yes. She said she'd see you to-morrow. She 
hasn't been well since she came here. 

Billy. 
Pardon me. 

[Takes telegram from his pocket and studies it. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Shall I show you to your room? 

[The singing ends softly. 

Billy. 

I think I'll stay in there. [Motions toward r. ] 
The old man said he wanted to be alone, but he is 
sound asleep and won't know the difference. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Is there anything I can do for him? 

Billy. 
Nothing, thank you. 

[Enter Borden from c.e., coming dozvn 
stairs. He wears hat and coat. 

Borden. 

I've got to go down to the village, Mrs. Gray. I 
think I can make it in an hour. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'll get you the key. 



86 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
It isn't necessary. I'll be in here. 

Borden. 

I hate to trouble you, but it's a very important 
message I want to get off to-night. The telegraph 
office is open until midnight and my flivver generally 
makes good time. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Good-night. 

Borden. 

[In c. e.] Good-night. 

[Exit, c. e. to l. rear. Enter Kittie from l. 

Kittie. 

[Crosses to rear r.] Everything in de back's 
done locked up now, Miss Mabel, and Miss Mary's 
done gone to bed. She said tell you she's feelin' 
better. 

Mrs. Gray. 

Oh, I'm glad of that. This has been a strenuous 
day, hasn't it, Kittie? 



Kittie. 

Shore has and dis yere cullud lady is cert'n'y glad 
to hit de hay. f Gives a prodigious yawn. ] Lawsy, 
seems like I could sleep till old brother Gabriel 
blowed his trumpet on de day ob jubilee. [At win- 
dow.] Mistah Borden's gittin' in his flivver. I 
wonder how come dat man's galivantin' down to de 
village dis time o' night. Well, ef dere hain't nuffin 
else I kin do fo' you, Miss Mabel, I reckon I'll 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 87 

retire right now so's I kin git ma beauty sleep before 
midnight. [Laughs.] Beauty sleep! De Lawd 
knows I needs it. [Exit, c. e. and up stairs. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[To Billy, who has been studying his telegram 
at center table.] I think I'll go up-stairs, Mr. Billy, 
and make you a memorandum of all my husband's 
characteristics. It might be of some help to you. 

[Crosses to piano. 

Billy. 
[Crosses and stands with his back to fireplace.] 
Yes, especially his early life and associations. 
[Looks at telegram which he holds in his hand; 
pauses.] By the way, Mrs. Gray, do you know any- 
thing about Miss Blake's past life ? Before you met 
her in France, I mean ? 

Mrs. Gray. 
[At zvindow, arranging curtains for the night.] 
Yes. [Slight pause; she turns to him.] But it 
was told me in confidence. 

Billy. 
[Down l.] I understand. I hope you will par- 
don me, but I'm awfully interested in Miss Blake. 
She's a wonderful girl. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Indeed she is — and a good girl, too. 

Billy. 
[Looks at telegram, then at Mrs. Gray ; there is 
a slight pause.] Is she? 



88 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Positively.] Yes, Mr. Billy, she is. She's a 
girl in a million. 

Billy. 

I'm glad to hear you say so, Mrs. Gray. Awfully 
glad. [Impulsively tears telegram into bits and 
throws it in the fireplace.] That is my opinion 
exactly. 

Mrs. Gray. 

I wonder if Kittie locked the window. [Looks 
out of the window. Suddenly she utters a sharp 
cry of fright.] Oh! 

Billy. 
[Hunries to her.] What is it? 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Points out of window.] I thought I saw some 
one lurking in the shadow of that tree. 

Billy. 
Shh ! Don't be alarmed. 

Mrs. Gray. 
I'm sure I saw something move. 

Billy. 

I'll see who it is. [Closes window, snaps out all 
lights on the stage.] Wait a moment. 

[Crosses to c. e. stealthily and exits c. e., 
going out at rear l. There is a marked 
pause, long enough for one to count twenty. 
This is important and helps to keep up the 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 89 

suspense of the scene. The stage is al- 
most dark, the only illumination coming 
from the fireplace. Billy reenters at c. e. 

Mrs. Gray. 
Did you see any one? 

Billy. 

No, it must have been the shadow of a moving 
tree. 

Mrs. Gray. 

I thought it was a man. I'm a little nervous, I 
guess, but I feel perfectly safe with you in the 
house. Lock the door when Mr. Borden comes in. 
[Crosses to stairs.] Good-night! 

[Exit up the stairs. 

Billy. 

Good-night, Mrs. Gray. [Crosses to the win- 
dow, opens it and looks out, hiding himself from 
any one outside. Slowly takes revolver from his 
pocket and examines it. He crosses down to the 
fireplace and examines the revolver carefully by the 
firelight. He shows his satisfaction. A sound is 
heard outside at r. Billy should take plenty of 
time looking at the revolver — the stage has been per- 
fectly quiet and the audience is " keyed " and alert. 
As soon as Billy hears the sound off R. he 
straightens up and listens tensely. Crosses to c. e. 
with revolver pointed at door r. Billy conceals 
himself at c. e. The door at r. slowly opens and 
Ishmael appears wearing a bathrobe and carrying 
tzvo blankets. He looks about stage and is ap- 
parently satisfied that he is alone. He crosses to 



90 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

window, opens it wide and extending his arms 
breathes in the air. Billy appears watching him, 
visible to the audience but invisible to Ishmael. 
Ishmael slowly crosses down to fireplace, spreads 
a blanket in front of the fire, wraps the other one 
around himself and prepares to sleep. In the mean- 
time Billy has moved down back of the piano, 
watching Ishmael. Another pronounced pause, 
long enough to count fifteen. Ishmael sleeps. 
Billy, slowly, watching Ishmael.] He never slept 
in a bed. He used to wrap a blanket around him 
and sleep before the fire. [Pause.] All right, 
John Gray, half of my work's done, anyway. 

[Nods in approval, his eyes on Ishmael. 



SLOW CURTAIN 



ACT III 

SCENE. — The same as before. Time, seven o'clock 
the next morning. 

The rise of the curtain discovers the lights ex- 
tinguished on the stage, but footlights, borders 
and heads on full. Strong bunch of yellozvs 
shine through the window. Ishmael is dis- 
covered asleep in front of the fireplace. After 
the curtain is up there is a slight pause and then 
a clock off stage strikes seven times. Billy 
enters from r. briskly, crosses to Ishmael and 
shakes him. 

Billy. 

Come, wake up, it's morning. [Slight pause, 
shakes him again.] It's time to get up. Breakfast 
is ready. [Bawls.] Get up! 

Ishmael. 
[Slowly awakens, yawns, stretches, sits on floor 
and looks around. Pause as Ishmael rubs his 
eyes. ] Wall, I'll be swunked ! 

Billy. . 
' [Standing l. c. ] You'll be worse than that if 
you don't hurry and get dressed. Do you want the 
ladies to find you looking like that? 

91 



92 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

ISHMAEL. 

[Rises hurriedly on word " ladies," crosses to 
Billy and grasps his arm.] Ladies? Is there 
ladies here? I ain't seen a lady in fifteen years. 
[Looks around. ] Where in Sam Hill am I ? 

Billy. 

Silver Trout Inn, up the mountain from the vil- 
lage of Skeehawken, State of New York, U. S. A. 

ISHMAEL. 

[Petulantly.] Well, what am I doin' here? 
That's what I want to know. What am I a-doin' 
here, and who in Tunket air you? 

Billy. 
Party by the name of Billy. 

Ishmael. 
Billy what? 

Billy. 
[Pleasantly.] Just Billy. Plain Mr. Billy. 

Ishmael. 
[Looks around puzzled.] How'd I git here? 

Billy. 
[Nonchalantly.] Flew. 

Ishmael. 
Flew? [Pause.] Say, what's the matter with 
you ? Y' hain't crazy, er nothin', air y' ? You don't 
act right to me. Flew! You hain't one of them 
lunytics, air y* ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 93 

Billy. 
I don't think so. I simply tried to answer your 
question. You came here in an aeroplane. 

ISHMAEL. 

Who did? 

Billy. 
You did. 

ISHMAEL. 

In an aeroplane? 

Billy. 
Yes. 

Ishmael. 
Shucks, there ain't no sich thing. 

Billy. 

You remember falling into the river yesterday, 
don't you? 

Ishmael. 
[Puts hand to head, speaks slowly as if trying to 
remember.] Seems like I do. I went acrost that 

dratted ole bridge and I got dizzy and then 

[Pause. 

Billy. 
Then you took a sudden little bath in the stream* 

Ishmael. 
[Shivers.] I remember. It was colder'n a icicle. 
I hate water worser'n pizen. I tried to swim, but 
I was sun-struck, er sump'm, and couldn't move a 



94 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

muscle. Cramps, I cal'late. I got my mouth full 
of water and my ears and my nose and my eyes. 
I never knowed there was so much water in that 
durned stream. " Water, water everywhere nor 
any drop to drink." — Coleridge. 

Billy. 

Coleridge ? 

Ishmael. 

[Recovering his pose.] Yep, he's a feller I used 
to know. I sunk clean down over my head and 
everything. I forgot everything I ever knew and 
was headed straight fer the promised land — then 
somebody grabbed me — and that's all I remember. 

Billy. 

It was this way. I was flying up the mountains 
in an aeroplane and saw you fall in the river. I 
lighted as quick as I could and jumped in after you. 

Ishmael. 
And pulled me out? 

Billy. 

Exactly. 

Ishmael. 

[Shaking his hand warmly.] You saved my life, 
young man. You saved my life. 

Billy. 
Oh, that's nothing. 

Ishmael. 
Nothing? It was the act of a hero. [Changes 
tone to uneducated hermit again.] And you flew 



AJVD BILLY DISAPPEARED 95 

in one of them air-ships, did y' ? Wall, wall, don't 
that beat all? I've heerd tell on 'em, but I never 
thought I'd live to see one. And you saved my life, 
and brung me here in a air-ship. 

Billy. 
It came pretty near being your last flight, too. 
If I hadn't lighted here and put you to bed just 
when I did you'd been flying up toward the pearly 
gates this very minute. 

Isiimael. 
[In a dazed manner. ] When did all this happen ? 
I feel kinder dazed and don't seem able to recollect 
things real good. 

Billy. 
Yesterday. 

Ishmael. 
Yes. I kinder remember now. Somebody put 
me to bed. I hate beds. Ain't been in a bed before 
fer over twenty years. There was a woman bendin' 
over me in there, wa'n't there ? 

Billy. 

Yes, but you saw her and let out such a screech 
that it frightened her and she ran away. 

Ishmael. 
[Laughs cackling laugh.] Frightened her, hay? 
I'm glad of it. I'm glad of it. I didn't want her 
'round. I hain't got no use fer women. 

Billy. 
Don't like water, don't like swimming, don't like 
beds and don't like women. Some nut! 



96 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

ISHMAEL. 

What say ? 

Billy. 

I said [with a peculiar pronunciation] " some 
nut " ; that's an expression in French. I learned it 
in the trenches. 

ISHMAEL. 

So you were in the trenches, hay? Shake hands 
agin. I heerd we had a war over in the trenches, 
but I never met no soldiers who's been in it. 
How'd it come out? 

Billy. 
Eagle right on top. 

Ishmael. 
I might 'a' knowed it. And so you was in it. 
Wall, wall ! You see me bein' a hermit up thar in 
the mountains I don't hear much of what's goin' on. 

Billy. 
[Snaps fingers and sings.] He's a little mountain 
flower, growing wilder every hour. 

Ishmael. 
[Looks at him in astonishment.] Say, young 
feller, sump'm's the matter with you, sure. [Taps 
his forehead.] You ain't right, er sump'm. 

Billy. 
Just a little effervescent, uncle, just a little effer- 
vescent. 

Ishmael. 

Wall, I cal'late it's all right. You saved my life 
and I guess you kin be effervescent, ef you want to. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 97 

Billy. 
Say, you're not a married man, are you? 

ISHMAEL. 

Who, me? Wall, not so as you kin notice it. 
It's rheumatism makes me look this way. 

Billy. 
You must be a good deal younger than you look, 

ISHMAEL. 

That's right. Oncet I was young and happy as 
you are, but look at me now. I trusted a woman. 

Billy. 
What did she do ? 

Ishmael. 
Me. She was my wife. 

Billy. 
Oh, so you have been married. 

Ishmael. 
Yep, but she run away with a Baptist preacher 
and I ain't seen her since. 

{Enter Nancy and Aggie down stairs at rear 
R. The men do not see them. 

Billy. 

[To Ishmael.] There, there, don't get excited. 
You might get dizzy again like you did yesterday. 

Ishmael. 
I'm all right now, but I want to git away from 
here. Women folks around jest seem to pizen the 



98 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

air. I wanter git back to the top of the mountain 
where I'll never hear a woman's voice, never speak 
to one, er see one. I wanter git up so high in the 
mountains that they can't git at me. I never want 
to see 

Nancy. 
[Comes down c, between Billy and Ishmael.] 
Good-morning. 

Ishmael. 
[Jumps high in fright.] Greasy grasshoppers, a 
woman! Whar's my pants? What did you do 
with my clothes? [Rushes out at R. 

Aggie. 
[Comes down l.] Was that the hermit? 

Billy. 
[At r.] Yes, didn't he look like it? 

Aggie. 

Oh, I thought he'd be all dressed up in beads and 
feathers and things. [Pause; she crosses to C, 
speaking to Billy.] Say, mister, will you lemme 
have a ride in your air-ship ? 

Nancy. 
[At l. c] Aggie! 

Aggie. 
[At r. c] Aw, what's wrong with that? 

Billy. 

[At r.] Why, certainly, if your family will 
allow it. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 99 

Aggie. 
Then it's all off. My family never allow nothing. 
[Enter Borden, coming down stairs. 

Borden. 
Good-morning. 

Billy. 
Good-morning. 

Borden. 
Did you finally get the old man to bed ? 

Billy. 
No, I left him here asleep. He never heard you 
come in. 

Borden. 
Have you met my sisters? Nancy, this is Mr. 
Billy. 

Billy. 
[Bows.] Pleased, I'm sure. 

Nancy. 
Thank you. 

Aggie. 
[Coughs to attract Borden's attention.] Hm! 
You got another sister, too. I'm little but don't 
forget I'm still on earth. 

Borden. 
Oh, yes. Mr. Billy, this is Aggie. 



100 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Aggie. 

[Crosses and shakes hands with Billy vigor- 
ously.] Say, I'm awful glad to know you. All of 
the girls are perfectly crazy about aviators. And I 
think you're the bravest man — rescuing the hermit 
and everything. 

Borden. 
[At l. door.] Come, Aggie, breakfast is ready. 

Aggie. 

In a minute. Are you going to eat now, Mr. 
Billy? 

Billy. 
No. I have to look after my patient first. 

Aggie. 

Come to our table when you come in. I want to 
make that old maid Miss Match jealous. She's 
got it in for me 'cause I stepped on the tail of her 
cat. [Enter Bub from c. e., coming from rear l. 

Bub. 
Say, Mr. Borden, what you think? 

Borden. 
[Down l.] What is it, Dusenberry? 

Bub. 
[Near him.] Miss Match borrowed your flivver 
about an hour ago and driv down to the village. 

Aggie. 
Well of all the nerve! 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 101 

Nancy. 
Aggie ! 

Borden. 
Oh, that's all right. I suppose she'll be back soon. 

Bub. 
I jist thought I'd let you know, that's all. Seems 
kinder suspicious to me, her runnin' off with your 
flivver and everything. 

Borden. 

It's all right. Come, girls. 

[Nancy and Aggie cross to him at l. 

Bub. 
Breakfast is all ready. Got ham and waffles and 
grape-nuts, grape-fruit and eatin' grapes. I ain't 

had so much to eat since I waited table at 

[insert local name] weddin'. 

[Exit, c. e. and out rear l. 

Aggie. 
Oh, let's hurry. I always want to be first in the 
dining-room. [Exit, l. 

Borden. 
Aggie! [Exit,L. 

Nancy. 
We'll have to eat by ourselves, I suppose. Mr. 
Greener hasn't come home yet, has he ? 

Billy. 
I don't think so. 



102 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 

Isn't it odd ? I've been here two days and haven't 
met him yet. [Exit, l. Aggie looks in at L. 

Aggie. 

Say, Mr. Billy, you'd better hurry if you want to 
git a good breakfast. 

Billy. 
I'll be in presently. 

Aggie. 

I'll wait for you. [Throws kiss at him.] See 
you later, Billy. [Exit, l. 

Billy. 

[Down r.] Not if I see you first. [Sits at small 
table. Soft music: Chorus of "Long, Long Trail." 
Billy reads book. Enter Mary down stairs; she 
comes down l. Billy sees her, rises and crosses 
eagerly to her, c.] Why, how do you do, Miss 
Blake? 

Mary. 

[Shakes hands with him at c.] How do you do, 
Mr. Billy? [End music. 

Billy. 

Mrs. Gray said you were here. This is a de- 
lightful surprise. How are you? 

Mary. 

Splendid. And you — you've quite recovered, 
haven't you ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 103 

Billy. 

Quite. I don't look much like the man in the 
hospital now, do I, Miss Blake? 

Mary. 

I'm glad you are well. Your case was very 
puzzling — [pause; looks at him] and so were you. 

Billy. 
Was I? How? 

Mary. 
You disappeared so suddenly. 

Billy. 
Discharged as cured. 

Mary. 

But no one seemed to know when you left or 
where you went. 

Billy. 
That was part of the game. 

Mary. 

The game? 

Billy. 
Sure. I was in the secret service, you know. 

Mary. 

No, I didn't know. But that explains everything. 
We all wondered how you happened to be in the 
thick of the battle wearing civilian clothes. 



104 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 

I was after a couple of spies in our own lines, 
and I generally get what I go after. 

Mary. 
You generally get what you go after? 

Billy. 

They were Germans disguised as doughboys giv- 
ing vital information to the enemy. They had a 
secret wire with them wherever they went. I said 
I'd get it. [Slight pause.] And I did. 

Mary. 
And the spies ? 

Billy. 
[Lightly.] Oh, I got them, too. 

Mary. 

And you attacked that dugout. I heard about 
that. You got them, too. 

Billy. 

Yeah, after a while. But they nearly got me. 
Not quite, you know — just nearly. It was a tough 
pull getting over that little dugout scrap, but I 
wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

Mary. 
Why? 

Billy. 
Because it gave me a chance to meet you. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 105 

Mary. 
I didn't think you'd even remember me. 

Billy. 

I'll never forget you. By George, it seems only 
yesterday — those days in the old hospital near 
Chateau-Thierry. Do you remember that last even- 
ing in the purple shadows of the French twilight 
when you sang the " Long, Long Trail " ? 

Mary. 
[Softly.] I remember. 

Billy. 

I believe that was what made me well enough to 
leave the hospital. You sat by the window with 
your little guitar and sang to me. I'll never forget 
it. I could see one little star shining through the 
window. A star of hope. 

Mary. 

[Sits at the piano.] I always love that song. 

[Sings the chorus softly. 

Billy. 

Thank you. There's a long, long trail winding 
down the path of every one's dream, isn't there? 

Mary. 
Yes. [Pause.] But mine is a lonely trail. 

Billy. 
Lonely ? Why ? 



106 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
There's a long, long night of waiting until my 
dreams all come true. 

Billy. 

Till the day when I'll be going down the long, 
long trail with you. [Takes her hands. 

Mary. 

[Gently removes her hands from his.] We don't 
know what to say to each other, do we ? That's 
because we don't really know each other — not so 
much. I heard you were here last night and I've 
been thinking a great deal since. 

Billy. 
Since you heard I was here ? 

Mary. 

Yes. What sort of a girl did you imagine me to 
be back there in the hospital? 

Billy. 
The sort of a girl you are. 

Mary. 
What sort of a girl am I ? 

Billy.t 
You are unusual. 

Mary. 
Why? 

Billy. 
You are different from the girls I know. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 107 

Mary. 

[Laughs nervously.] You don't know what to 
say. Really you know very little about me. You 
have everything to find out. 

Billy. 
[Slowly and gravely.] And do you want me to 
find everything out? 

Mary. 
[Starts. ] What do you mean by that ? 

Billy. 
I was just wondering if you really wanted me to 
know the real Mary Blake. Sometimes in the hos- 
pital I used to think you were worrying about some- 
thing. Won't you let me help you? Won't you? 
Maybe I can — that's part of my business, in the 
secret service, you know. I believe I could help 
you, if you'd let me. 

Mary. 
No one can help me. I don't ask help. All I 
ask is to be let alone — to be given the chance that 
every woman should have. That's all I want — a 
chance, a chance to make good. 

Billy. 
Mary, I'm your friend. After all you did for me 
over there in the hospital, don't you believe it? 
Won't you trust me ? 

Mary. 
I have told you all I can. 



108 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
Mary, did you ever know Bell Summers ? 

Mary. 
[Starts.] Yes. Why do you ask me that? 

Billy. 

Do you know the police are looking for her? 
[Pause; Mary is silent and turns away from him.] 
She is the notorious Getaway Bell. She is wanted 
for the Watertown bank robbery. Plain clothes 
men are scouring the country looking for her. 
They know she was headed this way. Have you 
seen her? 

Mary. 
Why do you ask me that ? 

Billy. 

You said you knew her. Mary, I want to help 
you. I want to be your friend. That night over 
there in France when I asked you to be my wife 
you said we could never be anything but friends. 
Now I'll take you at your word. I'm going to be 
your friend. This Bell Summers is a crook, a dan- 
gerous crook, known to the police as Getaway Bell, 
because she always manages to escape. Did you 
know that? [After slight pause, Mary nods her 
head in assent. ] I thought I'd put you wise, that's 
all. This time she can't make a getaway. We're 
after her, and we're going to get her. Understand ? 
It may be a matter of weeks — or months — or years, 
but we're going to get her. 

Mary. 
You have a clue? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 109 

Billy. 
Yes, Mary, I have a clue. 

Mary. 
Suppose — [speaks zvith difficulty] suppose she 
were a friend of mine — a relative. Would you 
blame me for helping her ? Suppose I were a crim- 
inal myself. 

Billy. 
You? 

Mary. 
It's true. I am an ex-convict* 

Billy. 
Mary! 

Mary. 

Now you see why I would not consent to marry 
you. You see I can never be anything else than 
what I am — I can't go straight — they won't let me. 
If the police learn I am here they will arrest me on 
some trumped-up charge to find out what I know 
of Getaway Bell. 

Billy. 
[Goes to her and takes her hands, looks in her 
eyes.] You're straight now, Mary. 

Mary. 

[Hesitates, then looks at him.] Yes, I'm straight 
now, 

Billy. 
Then I'm going to help you keep straight. 



IIO AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
Do you think I can do it? 

Billy. 
I know you can. Now, tell me the whole story. 

Mary. 

After I finished my course in high school my 
father died and I went to Watertown to work in a 
department store. [Speaks with difficulty.] One 
day — some things were missing from the stock — and 
one of the detectives found a fur neck-piece in my 
locker hidden in my coat. I — I didn't take it. I 
didn't, I didn't ! It was a frame-up. I was ar- 
rested and convicted on circumstantial evidence. 
I spent fourteen months in the penitentiary. Four- 
teen months, Mr. Billy, and I was innocent ! After 
my release I couldn't get work, my record was 
against me. I was desperate. I didn't know what 
to do. I went to New York, but it was the same 
old story over again. Then I met a woman who 
had been in prison with me. She gave me a home. 
She said she would help me. I had no money and 
I was alone in New York — alone and hungry. I 
went with her. A week later I learned that she was 
connected with a band of thieves. I escaped from 
the house and volunteered for work in France. I 
became a nurses' helper and was sent overseas. I 
tried to live down the past, I tried to forget, but the 
memory of those prison days haunted me ; every- 
where I went I seemed to see the iron bars and the 
stripes and the stone walls. I can't forget — no 
matter what I do — no matter where I go, I can't 
forget. I can't forget. [Sobs on table. 



AND BILL V DISAPPEARED 1 1 1 

Billy. 

I am glad you have told me this. [Takes her 
hands.] You need a friend, one who can shield 
you and protect you. Mary, I will be that friend. 

Mary. 
You believe my story ? 

Billy. 
Every word. [Enter Kittie from l. 

Kittie. 

'Scuse me, Miss Mary, but how many helpings 
ob waffles am I supposed to gib dat little Aggie 
chile? She's done et four and I'm skeerd ob her 
digestication. Her folks say she can't hab no more 
and she say she gwine to tell about de thousand- 
dollar Liberty Bond 'less'n she gits what she wants. 
Mighty unpacifying, mighty unpacifying! 

[Enter Miss Match from rear l. She 
stands in c. e., unobserved by the others. 

Aggie. 

[Outside at l.] I will have it. I will ! I'll have 
what I want to eat or know the reason why. 

[Enter Aggie from l., followed by Borden 
and Nancy. 

Borden. 

Do you want to be sick? You come right up- 
stairs to your room. My patience is at an end. 

[Takes Aggie roughly by the arm. Ishmael 
appears in doorway at r., unobserved. 



112 AND BILL Y DISAPPEARED 

Aggie. 

You let me alone ; if you don't I'll tell everybody 
where I found that thousand-dollar Liberty Bond 
out in the front yard. 

Borden. 

Aggie ! 

[Jerks her to c. e and upstairs, followed by 
Nancy. Ishmael disappears. 

Kittie. 

Thousand-dollar Liberty Bond ? What's dat chile 
talkin' about? 

Mary. 
Oh, that was just some childish nonsense. 

Miss Match. 

[Comes down r.] I had the nicest little spin. 
I've been clear down to the village and back. I 
love to get up early in the morning and take a ride. 
It gives one such an appetite. 

Kittie. 
Breakfast is ready. 

Miss Match. 
I'll go right in. Have you had your breakfast, 
Miss Blake? 

Mary. 
Not yet. 

Miss Match. 

I hate to eat alone. Why don't you introduce me 
to the gentleman ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 113 

Mary. 
[At c] Miss Match, this is Mr. Billy. 

Miss Match. 

[Crosses to him at l. c. and shakes hands.] Oh, 
I've been wanting to meet you ever since you came. 
It was so brave of you to rescue that old man. And 
so romantic ! In an air-ship and everything. Just 
like one of the heroes of olden times. You ought 
to have a golden medal pinned to your chest by 
some fair damsel. I think you are just wonderful. 
As a reward for your bravery I'll let you eat break- 
fast with me. 

Billy. 
[With mock politeness.] Oh, thank you. 

Miss Match. 

[Crosses to door at l.] I have several gentlemen 
friends in the air service. That is what makes me 
so interested in you. [Comes back to him and takes 
his arm.] I suppose you have many queer ex- 
periences and meet many queer people. 

Billy. 
[Significantly.] Oh, yes. I meet queer people 
all the time. Sometimes I eat breakfast with them. 

[Crossing to door l. with her. 

Miss Match. 

You surely don't think I'm queer, do you? My 

gentlemen friends have often told me that I was 

very, very interesting, but I've never been called 

queer. But then, of course, I'm not like other girls. 



114 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
No, I don't think you are. You're quite unique. 

Miss Match. 

Oh, you say the most flattering things. I knew I 
was going to be fascinated the minute I laid eyes 
on you. [They go out at l., she chattering. 

Kittie. 

[Throws up her hands.] Lawsy, lawsy, dat old 
maid shore is working hard to get a man. Ain' dat 
scan'lous? And dat pore innocent young man jes' 
swallowed de bait — hook, line and sinker. Urn, 
um ! Right before our very eyes. [Goes to l.] 
First thing we knows she gwine kidnap dat boy 'fore 
he gets his second wind. Mighty scan'lous, mighty 
scan'lous ! 

[Exit, l. Bub enters c. e., coming from 
rear l. 

Bub. 
[Coming down r.] Say, Miss Blake. 

Mary. 
[Starts.] Yes? 

Bub. 

[Seriously.] Did you know there was a de- 
tective here in the house ? 

Mary. 
A detective? 

Bub. 
Yep. And he's wise to a whole lot of things, too. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 115 

Mary. 

Who is it ? 

Bub. 

Me. I'm a detective. Took three lessons al- 
ready in a, correspondence school. That's the rea- 
son I'm so suspicious. Say, did you ever see a 
crook ? 

Mary. 
Why do you ask? 

Bub. 

I jest kinda want to git a line on what they look 
like close up. You been over in France. There 
must have been a lot of crooks over there. 

Mary. 

I don't know. 

[Billy appears at door l., unobserved. 

Bub. 

First I had my suspicions of Mr. Billy, 'cause he 
got a telygram writ in code, but I think he's on the 
level, all right, don't you ? 

Mary. 
Yes, I know he is. 

Billy. 
Thank you. 

Mary. 

[Rising confused.] Oh, I didn't know you were 
listening. 



. Il6 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
Has Mrs. Gray come down yet? 

Mary. 

No. I went to her room but she said she wasn't 
feeling well. She has a headache. I must take her 
up some breakfast. [Crosses to l. door. 

Billy. 

Tell her I've got some good news for her. It's 
great. Tell her that when she hears what I've got 
to tell her she'll forget she ever had a head, and 
tell her to prepare herself for a great shock. It's 
great news. 

Mary. 
Good news? 

Billy. 
The best in the world. 

Mary. 
I'll tell her. [Exit, at l. 

Billy. 
[Looking after her.] Great girl that. 

Bub. 

Betcher life. She used to be a nurse over in 
France. 

Billy. 
I know — and she was a great nurse, too. 

[Enter Ishmael from R. wearing tattered 
coat and hat. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 117 

ISHMAEL. 

I'm goin\ 

Billy. 
Going ? Not on your life. You haven't had your 
breakfast yet. 

Ishmael. 
Do I have to go in thar to git it? [Points to l. 

Billy. 
Sure, that's the dining-room. 

Ishmael. 
I ain't et in a dining-room in nearly thirty years. 

Billy. 
Oh, that's all right. They still use forks. 

Ishmael. 

I can't go in thar where there's a lot of women 
folks. 

Billy. 
Why not? 

Ishmael. 
'Cause I don't want to associate with women. 

Bub. 
Ain't that peculiar? 

Ishmael. 

I'm goin' back to my cave in the mountains. 

[Starts for c. E. 



Il8 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
[Dragging him back.] Nothing doing. Abso- 
lutely nothing. You're liable to fall in the creek 
again. 

ISHMAEL. 

Say, I think I'm in a lunatic asylum. I never 
saw folks act so queer. 

Billy. 
Never mind, uncle, never mind. 

ISHMAEL. 

But I want to get away. 

Billy. 

Do you suppose I'm going to let you get away 
after all the trouble I've taken to land you? 

ISHMAEL. 

Land me? 

Billy. 
[Quickly.] Out of the water, I mean. When I 
brought you to the shore, didn't I land you? Bub 
will bring you something to eat. Just wait in there. 
You'll be a regular ten-dollar-a-day guest and have 
your breakfast in bed. 

ISHMAEL. 

Honest, I don't understand a word you're talking 
about. But if you think you kin charge me ten 
dollars a day you're makin' a mistake. You can't 
charge me ten cents, 'cause I ain't got it. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 119 

Billy. 

Oh, never mind a little thing like that. You're 
here as the guest of the house. I've got to keep my 
eye on you, uncle. Why, you are the very first 
mystery I've ever solved. 

Bub. 
Gosh, is he a mystery ? 

ISHMAEL. 

[Savagely.] No, I ain't. I ain't nothin' but just 
a hermit. 

Billy. 
You'd better duck and get under cover. 

ISHMAEL. 

But I want to go home. 

[Enter Miss Match from l. with napkin 
tucked in her neck. 

Miss Match. 
Oh, there you are. 

ISHMAEL.' 

A woman ! 

[Exits quickly at R. with long strides. 

Miss Match. 
I thought you were coming back and I waited and 
waited and waited. 

Bub. 
She orter git a job in the dining-room. We need 
another waiter. 



120 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
I had to look after my hermit. .Bub, tell the cook 
to poach him a couple of eggs on toast and take him 
a cup of coffee. 

Miss Match. 
Don't you want to come back with me ? 

Billy. 

Oh, I'd just love to do that, but I've got to take 
care of the sick man. 

Miss Match. 

I'll see you after breakfast. I want you to show 
me your aeroplane. I'm just crazy about aero- 
planes. Then we can take a nice little walk up the 
hill. Every morning I take a little tramp up to 
Sunset Rock. 

Billy. 
That's nice. 

Bub. 
Where is he? 

Miss Match. 
Where is who? 

Bub. 

The little tramp. [Dodges as she looks at him.] 
Don't you hit me. 

Miss Match. 
I'll hurry, Mr. Billy. [Crosses to door at L.] 
Don't run away and leave me. [Exit, at L. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 121 

Billy. 
Bub, hurry and see about Ishmael's breakfast. 

Bub. 

I'll bet a dollar he'll be gone the minute you leave 
him alone. 

Billy. 

Then we mustn't leave him alone. Whatever 
happens the hermit has got to stay here until Mrs. 
Gray sees him. 

Bub. 
Why? 

Billy. 
I can't tell you. 

Bub. 
Is it a mystery? 

Billy. 
Something like it. 

Bub. 
Say, he ain't a crook, is he ? 

Billy. 
No. 

Bub. 

And yet it's a mystery. Maybe he's a long-lost 
heiress. 

Billy. 

Hurry and get him something to eat or he'll be a 
corpse. 



122 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Bub. 
All right. I alius did have my suspicions about 
him anyhow. [Crosses to door at l.] If you got 
any detective work to be did, Mr. Billy, jest call on 
me, 'cause I'm crazy to git the experience and satis- 
faction guaranteed. 

[Struts out at l. Enter Borden down stairs 
at rear r. 

Billy. 
Mr. Borden ! 

Borden. 
[Comes down to him.] Yes? 

Billy. 
What did your little sister mean about finding a 
thousand-dollar bond in the front yard? 

Borden. 
Oh, did you hear her say that ? Just a fairy tale, 
that's all. Aggie has been reading too much fiction 
lately. 

Billy. 

I thought maybe it was one of the missing bonds 
from the Watertown bank robbery. 

Borden. 
What would it be doing here? 

Billy. 
That's just what I am trying to find out. I 
thought that maybe you could help me. You're the 
prosecuting attorney of this county, aren't you ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 123 

Borden. 
Yes, but I don't know who you are. 

Billy. 
[Hands him a card.] Party by the name of Billy. 

Borden. 

[Reads card, pauses, looks at Billy.] So you 
are with the Ryan Detective Agency ? 

Billy. 
Yes, I'm from the Denver branch. 

Borden. 
Then come up-stairs, I have something to show 
you. 

Billy. 

One of the missing bonds? 

[As they cross to stairs. 

Borden. 

You've guessed it. Though I can't imagine how 
it got here in the Silver Trout Inn. 

[ They go up stairs, and go out rear r. There 
is a slight pause then Ishmael opens the 
door at r. quietly and enters, looking 
around. He carries his shoes in his hand. 
He sneaks to c. e., looks up stairs and' is 
about to exit at rear l. when Bub enters 
from l. and sees him. 

Bub. 
Halt! [Slight pause, as Ishmael looks at him.] 
You're discovered. 



124 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

ISHMAEL. 

I'm goin' home. [Bub rushes to him and grabs 
him by the arm.] Say, what's the matter with all 
you folks anyhow? Can't I leave if I want to? 

Bub. 
Leave? Wall, I should say not. 

ISHMAEL. 

It's a free country, ain't it? 

Bub. 
Yeah, I guess so, when Congress ain't in session. 

ISHMAEL. 

I thought you was goin' to git me something to 
eat. 

Bub. 

That's right. The cook's fixin' it now. Just go 
back and lie down. 

ISHMAEL. 

I don't want to lie down. [Bub leads and pushes 
him to door at R.] I want to git away, I tell you. 

Bub. 
[Grabs Ishmael's shoes from his hand.} Gimme 
them shoes and I'll git 'em shined fer you. 

[Starts toward l. 

Ishmael. 

You gimme back them shoes. What you tryin' 
to do — rob me ? 

[Enter Gene from rear l. and through c. E. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 25 

Bub. 

Oh, Mr. Greener, the old man wants to leave and 
Mr. Billy said he's got to stay. I can't do nothin' 
with him. 

Gene. 
What's the matter, uncle ? 

ISHMAEL. 

I wanna go back to the mountain. 

Bub. 

He's crazy and we gotta keep him here. 

[Gene and Bub push Ishmael off at r., both 

talking in a soothing way to him while he 
objects loudly. 

Gene. 

[Closes the door.] Now all you've got to do is 
to watch the door. 

Bub. 

I got his shoes, anyhow. He can't git back to the 
mountain without no shoes. Now I'll git his break- 
fast. 

[Exit, at l. Enter Billy down stairs at rear 
r. He starts to exit at L. 

Gene. 
Oh, Mr. Billy! 

Billy. 
[Turns.] Yes? 

Gene. 

I just came up from the village. I have some- 
thing for you. 



126 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 

[Crosses down R. to Gene.] What is it? 

[Nancy enters down stairs from rear r. and 
crosses down to door at l. 

Gene. 

They told me to bring it up to you. It's very im- 
portant. I wasn't sure I'd find you here, but I 
thought I'd take a chance. [Sees Nancy and is 
much impressed.] Oh! [Arranges collar, tie, etc. 

Nancy. 

[At door l.] Miss Blake said she wanted to see 
you, Mr. Billy. She'll be down in a minute. 

[Crosses to .c. 

Billy. 

Thank you. 

[Nancy sits at piano and runs hands very 
lightly over the keys. 

Gene. 

[Down r. with Billy.] Say, who's the queen in 
pink ? 

Billy. 
Oh, a girl. What did you say you had for me ? 

Gene. 

Yes, of course I can see she's a girl, but who is 
she? 

Billy. 

Miss Borden. She's here with her brother. Was 
it a package? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED \2J 

Gene. 
[Looking at Nancy.] A package? What do 
you mean package ? 

Billy. 
The thing you brought me from the village. 

Gene. 
Say, she's some queen, isn't she? Why don't 
you introduce me? 

Billy. 
Why, certainly. Miss Borden! 

Nancy. 
[Rises.] Yes? 

Billy. 
I want to present Mr. Greener. 

Gene. 
[Crosses to her quickly and shakes hands.] De- 
lighted, I'm sure. Have you been here long? 

Nancy. 
Two days. 

Gene. 
Great place, isn't it ? 

Nancy. 
Oh, delightful. 

Gene. 
Got a golf course and everything. 



128 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Nancy. 
Do you like to play golf? 

Gene. 
I'm a regular golf-hound. 

Nancy. 
So am I. But I've been waiting for two days to 
find some one to play with. 

Billy. 
[Crosses to Gene's r.] Didn't you have some- 
thing for me ? 

Gene. 
In a minute. In a minute. [To Nancy.] How 
would you like to go out and look at the links ? 

Nancy. 
Fine. This would be a dandy morning for a 
game. 

Gene. 
I'm on — are you ? 

Nancy. 
I'll be ready in a minute. Wait till I get my hat. 

Billy. 
What was it ? 

Gene. 
My clubs are on the front porch. 

Nancy. 

I won't be a minute. 

[Crosses to stairs, followed by Gene. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 29 

Gene. 
You can't be too quick for me. 

Billy. 
[Follows Gene.] Say! Didn't you bring 

Gene. 
[Turns to Billy.] Just a moment. [Turns to 
Nancy.] I'll wait for you right here. 

Nancy. 
All righty. [Runs up stairs and exits rear R. 

Billy. 
Now, if you can give me that moment you spoke 
about 

Gene. 
Say, she's some girl. 

Billy. 
Oh, yes. But you said 



Gene. 

I'm perfectly dippy about blondes. 

[Looks up stairs. 

Billy. 
Say ! What did you bring me from the village ? 

Gene. 
A telegram. They said it was very important. 
Let me see, what did I do with it? [Feels in 
pockets.] I know I had it. [Looks up stairs.] 
Say, I'm awfully glad I happened to register here 
at this Inn. 



130 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
So am I. 

Gene. 
Fine little girl, isn't she? What was I looking 
for ? Oh, yes — your telegram. There it is. 

[Hands it to him. 

Billy. 
Much obliged. 

Gene. 
Oh, that's all right. [Enter Ishmael from R. 

Ishmael. 
I want to go home. I want some breakfast. I 
want my shoes. 

Billy. 
[Rushes to him and leads him to door R.] Go on 
in there and stay. It isn't time for you yet. 

[Enter Bub from l. with covered tray. 

Bub. 
Say, is he trying to make a get away again? 

Ishmael. 
You ain't got no right to keep me here. 

Billy. 
Here's your breakfast now. Take him in there, 
Bub, and put him to bed. 

Bub. 

Come on. 

[Billy pushes Ishmael off at r. Bub exits 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED I3 1 

at r. Billy stands down r. and reads 
telegram. Nancy comes down stairs 
wearing hat. 

Nancy. 
Was I long? 

Gene. 
[At the foot of the stairs.] No, you're a won- 
derful girl. 

Nancy. 

Wait till you see me on the links. 

[Goes out rear l., followed by Gene. Enter 
Mary down stairs. She comes down c. 

Mary. 
Mrs. Gray is better now and she is very anxious 
to see you. 

Billy. 
I'm sorry. I can't see her now. Just got a 
sudden call to New York. 

Mary. 
But she is all excited about what you have to tell 
her. 

Billy. 
Tell her that I've found our man. 

Mary. 
Her husband? 

Billy. 
Yes. 



132 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
Oh ! After all these years — where is he ? 

Billy. 
In there. [Points to R. 

Mary. 
The hermit ? 

Billy. 

Yes. Bring her down right away, as he is try- 
ing to get back to his cave. Break the news to her 
gently. I've got to be in New York by noon. 

Mary. 
Can't you see Mrs. Gray? 

Billy. 

Haven't time. Bring her down and don't let the 
hermit get away. I'll be back late to-night. 

[Exit, at r. Enter Miss Match from l. 

Miss Match. 
Who was that? 

Mary. 
It was Mr. Billy. He's going away. 

Miss Match. 
To New York ? 

MAkY. 

Yes. He said he had to be there by noon. I 
must find Mrs. Gray. 

[Exit, up stairs. Enter Billy from r., wear- 



AND BILL Y DISA PPEA RED 1 3 3 

ing aviator's cap and goggles. He is fol- 
lowed by Bub, who carries Ishmael's 
clothes. 

Billy. 
Come on and help me start. Hurry up ! 

Bub. 
Say, I stole his clothes. I guess he can't escape 
now. 

Billy. 

[Hurries to c. e.] Good boy ! Come on. 

[Exit, c. e., going to rear L., followed by 
Bub. 

Miss Match. 
[Down l.] It worked. It worked. [Tri- 
umphantly.] And now we're safe. [Goes to win- 
dow.] He's off! [Waves her hand.] Good-bye, 
Mr. Billy, good-bye. [Turns to audience.] Safe! 
[Speaks grimly.] I think that Mr. Billy is making 
his last flight! [Crosses to door at L.] His last 
flight ! 

[ Gives a short, sneering laugh and exits at l. 
Enter Mary down stairs, followed by Mrs. 
Gray. 

Mary. 
You must be calm. You can't stand all this ex- 
citement. 

Mrs. Gray. 
[At c] I will be calm. Oh, where is he? 
Where is he? I've waited all these years. 



134 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

ISHMAEL. 

[Outside at r.] Come back with them clothes! 
Come back, I say ! Help, help, thieves ! 

Mrs. Gray. 
That doesn't sound like John's voice. 

Mary. 

[At r. c] You must be brave. 

[Enter Ishmael from r. wearing socks and 
dressing robe. 

Ishmael. 
Where are they? [Sees ladies.] Oh! 

[Starts to exit at r., but Mary stands in his 
way. 

Mary. 
Stop! 

Ishmael. 
What do you mean? Let me go! 

Mrs. Gray. 

[Moves close to him, looks at him intently.] It's 
a mistake — it's all a mistake. 

Ishmael. 
You let me alone. [Exit, at r. 

Mary. 
[After a pause, goes to Mrs. Gray, who is almost 
about to faint. ] That was not the man ? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 35 

Mrs. Gray. 
No. I never saw that man before yesterday. It's 
all a, mistake. 

[Mary takes her in her arms and Mrs. Gray 
sobs on her shoulder. 



curtain 



ACT IV 

SCENE. — The same as before. Time, an after- 
noon a few days later. Lights on full as in 
Act III. 

At the rise of the curtain Mary is discovered seated 
L. c. talking to Kittie, who stands at l. 

Mary. 

When they come, Kittie, you may put them in the 
third floor rooms. 

Kittie. 

Yas'm. Say, Miss Mary, our hotel shore am 
doin' a good business. 

Mary. 
Yes, it's nearly full now. 

Kittie. 

How long is dat old man in dere [points to R.] 
gwine to stay? 

Mary. 
Mr. Billy told us to keep him here until he came 
back. He thought he was Mrs. Gray's husband but 
he was mistaken. I can't see any use of keeping 
him any longer. 

Kittie. 
No'm, I can't neither. He was crazy to leave 
the first day but for de las' two or three days he 

136 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED I 37 

seems right contented. And eat! honest, I never 
saw a mortal man eat so much like he does, 'less'n 
it's dat chile Aggie Borden, and she hain't a man. 

Mary. 
Be sure and give the third floor a good cleaning, 
Kittie. Bub will help you. 

Kittie. 

Yas'm, dat's jes' what I'z aimin' to do. [Crosses 
to door l.] How long is Miss Mabel gwine to be 
away? 

Mary. 

I got a letter from her this morning. She'll prob- 
ably be back this afternoon and her husband will 
be with her. 

Kittie. 

Ain't it magnanimous dat she's located her hus- 
band after all dese years? She ain't seen him fer 
nearly twenty-five years and has been lookin' fer 
him all dat time. And I'z had three husbands in 
de las' six years and am now on de lookout for 
Number Four. Dis yere bein' a unattached widow 
lady is powerful lonesome, Miss Mary, powerful 
lonesome. Looks like Miss Mabel never could 
recognize her man after all dese years. I'z plumb 
forgot what my first one looked like, 'cept dat he 
was a kinda cinnamon colored, no-count coon from 
Memphis. 

Mary. 
You arranged Number Six for Mr. Gray, didn't 
you? 



138 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

KlTTIE. 

Yas'm, it's all arranged. I wonder how come 
Miss Mabel to know where her husband was lo- 
cated at. 

Mary. 

The Ryan Detective Agency located him on a 
small island in the St. Lawrence. They wrote to 
Mrs. Gray and she went there at once. Then she 
sent me a telegram that the search was at an end. 

Kittie. 

I'm powerful glad. Do you reckon she's satisfied 
wif him, now she's got him? 

Mary. 
Her letter this morning said she was the happiest 
woman in the world. 

Kittie. 
Dat shore is nice. I don't blame her one bit. 
[Long sigh.] Lawsy, I wisht I was a married 
lady once more. I'm gwine clean up dat third floor 
now. 

[Exit, l. Enter Miss Match down stairs 
from rear r. 

Miss Match. 
I have everything packed up. 

Mary. 
You expect to catch the evening train ? 

Miss Match. 
Yes. I'll write to you when I get to Canada. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 139 

Mary. 
You are sure you can get over the border? 

Miss Match. 
Sure? There's nothing to be afraid of now. 

Mary. 
The Ryan agency doesn't usually give up. I can't 
understand it at all. 

Miss Match. 
I don't worry. I got rid of one of their men and 
I think I'm able to get away. 

Mary. 
Got rid of one? You mean Mr. Billy. 

Miss Match. 
Yes, I mean Mr. Billy. 

Mary. 
Where is he? [Pause; Miss Match looks at her 
in a tantalising manner. Mary grasps her arm.] 
Where is he ? What has happened to him ? I have 
heard nothing from him for four days. Where is 
he? 

Miss Match. 
You'll never hear from him again. 

Mary. 
[Alarmed.] You mean 

Miss Match. 
I mean that he fell into my trap. 



140 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 
How? 

Miss Match. 

I made a copy of that first code message he re- 
ceived. I worked it out and learned that he was 
after Getaway Bell. That was his real purpose here. 

Mary. 
Well? 

Miss Match. 

You remember the morning he went away? I 
went to the village early that morning and sent him 
another message in the same code. It was a decoy 
calling him to New York. 

Mary. 
Where in New York? [Looks at her; pause; 
Miss Match is silent.] Tell me! I've got to 
know. [Grabs Miss Match and forces her to her 
knees, Mary's hands around her neck.] He's dis- 
appeared. Where is he ? Tell me ! Where is he ? 

[Chokes her. 

Miss Match. 
Don't! don't! 

Mary. 

I won't let you go. I'll turn you over to the po- 
lice. I'll go to prison myself. Tell me where 
he is! 

Miss Match. 
I don't know. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 141 

Mary. 

You can't deceive me any longer. You sent him 
a decoy telegram. It called him to New York. 
Where is he? 

Miss Match. 

The letter told him to go to the rear of Donovan's 

place. 

* 

Mary. 

[Releases her; staggers back in terror; speaks in 
a whisper.] Where Croak is hiding? [Pause; 
then in horror.] And he's disappeared. [Whis- 
pers.] Croak has killed him. 

Miss Match. 
Maybe he got away. 

Mary. 

Croak has killed him. Oh, I know Croak Mc- 
Gowan. He's killed him. 

Miss Match. 
Then come with me to-night. You can make a 
new start in Canada. We'll get over the border and 
everything will be all right. [Pause.] Why don't 
you say something? You'll go with me? 

Mary. 
No! I'll go to New York. I'll find out the 
truth. And if Croak McGowan has killed the man 
I love I'll send him to the chair [turns to Miss 
Match savagely], and I'll send you to the chair! 

Miss Match. 
Bell! 



142 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Mary. 

Don't call me Bell. I'm Mary Blake and I've 
always been Mary Blake. You are Getaway Bell. 
[Ishmael appears at door, r., and listens un- 
observed. 

Miss Match. 

The police have your record. They have your 
picture and beneath it is the name of Bell Summers. 

Mary. 

I'll' tell them the truth, and they'll know it's so 
because they'll see it in my face. I'll tell them how 
you used the name of Getaway Bell for me to shield 
yourself from the consequences of your own crimes. 
Oh, you worked your game cleverly enough with 
your false clues and your bits of evidence to make 
the police think that I was the criminal. But it's 
gone too far, it's all gone too far. I'm going to tell 
them the truth. 

Miss Match. 

Tell them what you like. They'll recognize your 
picture, they'll look up your record — then who will 
believe you' 



? 



I will. 
What! 
The hermit! 



Ishmael. 

Miss Match. 

Mary. 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 143 

ISHMAEL. 

That's what you folks call me, but in New York 
I'm generally known as Cornelius Ryan. 

Miss Match. 

You've nothing on me. There is the woman 
you're after. There is Getaway Bell. 

[Points to Mary. 

Ishmael. 

So I heard you say, but I rather think Getaway 
Bell will get away, just as she's always done. 
[Takes Miss Match's arm.] The woman I am 
after is Lizzie McGowan, the wife of Croak Mc- 
Gowan, who was caught last night in the rear of 
Donovan's place in New York. 

Miss Match. 
Croak caught? It isn't true. It's a frame-up. 

Ishmael. 

The district attorney's flivver is outside, Liz. 
You and I are going to take a little joy-ride down 
to the village and catch the evening train for New 
York. The game is up. 

Mary. 
Tell me what has become of Mr. Billy. 

Ishmael. 

Well, he's made a pretty good showing for him- 
self down in the city. He captured Croak Mc- 
Gowan. [Laughs.] But I fooled him. He's from 
our Denver agency and had never seen me. They 
sent him here to find Mrs. Gray's husband and we 



144 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

gave him a tip that Getaway Bell was in this part 
of the country. But I thought I might be of some 
help to the lad, so when I saw his air-ship headed 
over the mountain I just topples into the stream and 
let him pick me out. 

Mary. 
Then he is safe ? 

ISHMAEL. 

Well, I don't know as you'd call it safe. There's 

something the matter with him. 

Mary. 
What is it? 

ISHMAEL. 

Love, I reckon. I thought at first you were the 
real crook, Miss Blake, and I wanted to test the boy. 
That's why I hid outside in the shadows of the trees 
the night we came here. That's why I slept in 
front of the fire and nearly gave myself the rheu- 
matism. But the lad's true blue and has covered 
himself with glory. He ought to be here now. 

[Miss Match slowly and stealthily crosses 
to window. 

Mary. 
He's coming here? 

ISHMAEL. 

Well, I reckon all the king's horses and all the 
king's men couldn't keep him away from you. 
Come away from that window, Lizzie ; you're liable 
to catch cold. Mary, just run up-stairs and bring 
down Lizzie's hat and coat. And you might bring 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 145 

down that pack of Liberty Bonds. She's got it hid 
behind a piece of loose wall paper back of her bed. 
She won't need Liberty Bonds where she's going. 
[Exit Mary up stairs at rear r.] You might as 
well sit down, Lizzie, and be comfortable. 

Miss Match. 
[Panting in a terrible rage.] You — you! 

ISHMAEL. 

Sit down and catch your breath. I've been wait- 
ing for this little flirtation for a long time. Ever 
since you began to shift the blame of all your little 
acts to Getaway Bell. Yes, the Ryan Detective 
Agency has had its eye on you for some time. 

Miss Match. 
How did you find me out ? 

ISHMAEL. 

That's right, talk and be sociable. Well, here's 
where you made your little slip-up. We knew that 
Getaway Bell was in France as a nurse and yet the 
so-called Getaway Bell robberies went on just the 
same. We just put one and one together and made 
two; you were one and Croak was one, and that 
solved the whole thing. 

[Enter Billy from c. e., coming from rear l. 

Billy. 
[Coming to Ishmael and shaking hands with 
him.] Mr. Ryan, I'm ashamed of myself. 

Ishmael. 

Why? We all make mistakes sometimes, even 
the youngest of us. 



146 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 
I could have sworn you were the missing John 
Gray. 

ISHMAEL. 

Oh, no. The missing John Gray was located a 
week before you came here. He was in the Cum- 
berland Mountains and answered our advertisement 
for him. He thought his wife had been dead for 
years and was almost overcome when he learned of 
her long, long years of suffering. 

Billy. 
[Looks. at Miss Match.] Good-afternoon, Liz- 
zie. Your husband is in the Tombs. He sent you 
his kindest regards. Where are all the folks? 

Ishmael. 
On a picnic up at Sunset Rock. 

Billy. 

[Disappointed.] Oh! 

[Enter Mary down stairs with coat and hat 
and grip. 

Mary. 
[Drops things at foot of the stairs and goes to 
Billy with a glad cry.] You're safe? 

Billy. 
Safe and sound as a new-laid egg, 

Ishmael. 

Lizzie, I'm afraid we are intruding. The flivver 
awaits. Are you ready? 



AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 1 47 

Miss Match. 
[To Mary.] You'll do what you can for me, 
won't you ? 

Mary. 
Yes, I'll do what I can. 

Miss Match. 

And, Mary, go straight. You got your big chance 
now. Take it, girl, go straight. I never had the 
chance. [Changes tone.] All right, Mr. Cornelius 
Ryan, let's be starting. [Crosses to c. e. with him. 

Ishmael. 
Well, good luck, Billy. I'll see you at the office 
to-morrow. 

Billy. 
All right, Mr. Ryan. 

Ishmael. 

Good-bye, Mary. He's a fine fellow. He fished 
me out of the river. [Laughs.] And he never 
suspected that I was his boss. 

[Exit, c. e. and out rear l., with Miss 
Match. Soft music: Chorus of "Long, 
Long Trail." 

Billy. 
You've changed your mind about some things, 
haven't you, Mary? 

Mary. 
Yes. 



148 AND BILLY DISAPPEARED 

Billy. 

You said over there in France that we could only 
be friends. 

Mary. 
There's a long, long night of waiting until our 
dreams all come true. 

Billy. 

[Takes her in his arms.] But now I will be go- 
ing down the long, long trail with you. 

[Kittie appears in door at l., carrying tray 
of dishes. She sees them, drops the tray 
and throws up her arms. 

Kittie. 

For de land sakes! Excuse me. I knows how 
it is maself . Jest please kindly excuse me ! 

[She exits at l. Mary and Billy pay no 
attention to Kittie's interruption. 



CURTAIN. 



LEFe^O 






THE MAGISTRATE Farce in Three Acts. Twelve males, four 
«i«J ivi ** females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all 
interior. Plays two hours and a half. 

THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH £S^*X£; 

Costumes, modern ; scenery, all interiors. Plays a full evening. 

THE PROFLIGATE ^^y in Four Acts. Seven males, five females. 
Scenery, three interiors, rather elaborate ; 
costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THF SCHOOLMISTRFSS FarcemTnree Acts. Nine males, seven 
V U iw AW females. Costumes, modern; scenery, 
three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY %££*£*. "£ 

tumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

SWEET LAVENDER Comedy in Three Acts. Seven males, four 
^ fWiUMl f ema i ea Scene, a single interior; costumes, 
modern. Plays a full evening 

THE TIMES Comedy in Four Acta Six males, seven females. 
Scene, a single interior; costumes, modern. Plays a 
full evening. 

THE WEARER SEX Comedy in Three Acts. Eight males, eight 
females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two 
interiors. Plays a full evening. 

A WIFE WITHOUT A SMI1 

modern ; scene, a single interior. Plays a full evening. 



A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE ^l^JZ^Z 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Salter $. Rafter & Company 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



=J 



Cf)t Willim barren Ctottton 
of Paps 

ptict, 15 Cent}? €acl) 



A^ YftlT I IITP IT Comedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four 
A J IvU MAE 11 females. Costumes, picturesque ; scenery, va- 
ried. Plays a full evening. 

r A Mil IP Drama in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. Cos- 
vAJMlfLfJB tumes, modern ; scenery, varied. Flays a full evening. 

IN&OM AU ^^y ^ Five Acts. Thirteen males, three females. 
liiUUiUAA Scenery varied ; costumes, Greek. Plays a full evening. 

MABY ^TITAPT Tragedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four fe- 
JUAiV I tjiUAAl males, and supernumeraries. Costumes, of the 
period $ scenery, varied and elaborate. Plays a full evening. 

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE SffiffiSZSSS: SSX2S. 

picturesque ; scenery varied. Plays a full evening. 

DimPI IPIT ^ la y ^ Five Acts. Fifteen males, two females. Scen- 
IVIvlILrMHJ ery elaborate ; costumes of the period. Plays a full 
evening. 

THP BIVAI^ Comedy in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. 
1 ilk HI f Alt J Scenery varied ; costumes of the period. Plays a 
full evening. 

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER SB^fiH4M££ 

ried ; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. 

TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL SSft-IS:. 

three females. Costumes, pioturesque ; scenery, varied. Plays a 
full evening. 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Salter $. TBafier & Compan? 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



